Japanese carmaker Nissan is launching a car-sharing project deploying its New Mobility Concept (NMC) two-seat electric vehicles similar to the two-seater Renault Twizy this month.
The car-sharing project, which the company has named Ultra-Compact Mobility Certification System, will put the NMC vehicles to test on the roads of Yokohama’s Sakonyama Danchi District.
“The trial will assess the potential of ultra-compact electric vehicles as a catalyst in revitalizing large-scale, urban and suburban commuting methods, and will gauge the value of ultra-compact EVs as short-range modes of transport that can complement public transportation,” a statement issued by the company reads.
Nissan is working with semi-public housing agency Urban Renaissance as part of its “method for revitalizing urban and suburban areas”. The test program will run for one year.
Nissan had tested its other NMC vehicles recently at tourist centres in Shikano, east of Tottori Prefecture. The rides were made available at a cost of about $10 an hour in addition to $12 for a training license.
In 2013, Nissan had used ultra-compact EVs as official parking enforcement and patrol vehicles for the Urban Renaissance agency. The next year it used them for revitalization activities for the non-profit corporation, “All Sakonyama”.
The trials showcased the ultra-compact EV’s utility and the advantages it offered in local community settings, including the ability to navigate narrow roads in multi-unit apartment complexes and their versatility in short-distance commutes.
The carmaker has been running similar mobility programs using the NMC electric vehicles for about two years. But they have been limited to specific types of users. However, the new test will take the cars to the public and test its viability in a wider variety of handling conditions.
“This project intends to implement fee-based car-sharing trial runs for a broader scope of users in these apartment complexes to further promote practical application of the ultra-compact EVs,” Nissan says.
Ajith Kumar S