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Toyota is providing 70 vehicles, and a glance at them makes it clear that this is no
ordinary car-sharing service. The COMS is a tiny 4-wheel single-seater, and the i-ROAD
is a 3-wheel two-seater with “Active Lean technology” that’s designed to be as agile as a
scooter with the comfort of a car.
These tiny EVs (which aren’t sold in the States) seem to fit into Toyota’s overall strategy
– according to the company, “electric vehicles are especially suited to short-distance,
urban journeys, while hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles will prove more
practical for longer trips.”
Sodetrel will install and operate 27 charging stations with a total of 120 charging points
for the project. Each station is located close to a tram, bus or train stop. The vehicles and
charging stations are connected to the IT infrastructure of Grenoble’s transport
network, offering both route planning and online/mobile app reservations.
Users can pick up a vehicle and drop it off at any station, without having to return it to
the original pickup point. They will be charged only for the ride, which can cost as little
as 2 euros for a 15 minute drive.
Driving among traffic on the streets of Grenoble takes some forward thinking, too. It’s not just a
matter of remembering how to turn, but also remembering that the rear will kick out as you turn
the wheel, so watch those cars next to you. But it is extremely slim – hence the need for it to
lean, for stability in turns – and you can cut through traffic almost like a motorcycle, and then at
your destination you can park in half the space a normal car would need.
It’s also pretty fun to drive. Sure, the i-Road and COMS has a top speed of just 45 km/h, and a
range of 50 kilometres, but in i-Road it’s a thrill to lean the car over around a roundabout or
tight corners. The ride is less than comfortable, though, and potholes and rough roads are sent
directly through to the cabin