Toyota starts a car sharing service with EVs in Japan: Ha:mo

Toyota Ha:mo

Toyota Ha:moHa:mo! It sounds strange, or like ammo, but it’s nothing like that, its a diminutive for Harmonious Mobility. It works with EVs, but before that, it’s about software. It’s an app that covers and monitors all public transportation within the project’s limits (in Toyota City). All in real time. Traffic is also monitored in real time, but the icing on the cake is a fleet of 10 small EVs which sit in 4 stations. All the info is available via a smartphone. The user tells the app where he wants to go, and depending on his location and the time of the day, the app will give him the most convenient solution, with or without those personals EVs.

Those are monoseaters, and they don’t look very exciting on the pictures, but Toyota has found a good way to make the project attractive. Everything will be free. No inscription fee, and there will not be anything to pay to use the EVs. First users are expected to be students though, with the goal of having 100 joining. Somewhat later, when it will be sure that everything runs without any glitches, the service will be extended to 100 EVs, in 10 to 20 stations, with the goal of having 1,000 users. But Ha:mo will no longer be a free service by then.

Toyota Ha:mo

Ha:mo’s success (or misfortunes) will be closely watched by the Japanese government, ultimately, it may be extended with electric scooters and bikes from Yamaha.