Skip to main content

Japan to trial EV service for elderly people

The government of Japan is to introduce a low-speed electric vehicle (EV) service for elderly people travelling to shopping destinations and hospitals. A report by The Japan News says trial will comprise 10 small EVs called ‘Green Slow Mobility’. Each vehicle will be able to carry up to 10 passengers at a speed of less than 20kph. The Environment Ministry and Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry is hoping the trial will provide an understanding on how to set prices for rides. Munic
July 26, 2019 Read time: 1 min

The government of Japan is to introduce a low-speed electric vehicle (EV) service for elderly people travelling to shopping destinations and hospitals.

A report by The Japan News says trial will comprise 10 small EVs called ‘Green Slow Mobility’. Each vehicle will be able to carry up to 10 passengers at a speed of less than 20kph.

The Environment Ministry and Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry is hoping the trial will provide an understanding on how to set prices for rides.

Municipalities can trial the vehicles for free. Some communities are thinking about using artificial intelligence to help determine the optimal route for multiple bookings.

The trial sites will be in cities such as Kawachinagano (Osaka Prefecture), Oda (Shimane Prefecture) and Onomichi (Hiroshima Prefecture).

UTC

Related Content

  • June 6, 2025
    British Columbia's highway corridors show it’s good to share
    The Canadian province is advocating harmony along its major roads, setting aside major funding for projects to allow vehicles and other modes to operate safely side by side, reports David Arminas
  • January 26, 2012
    What's next for traffic management and data collection?
    As the technologies and stakeholders in traffic management evolve, what can we expect to see happening in the coming years? For many, the conversation of the moment is just how, and how far, the newer technologies and services provided principally by the private sector should be allowed to intrude into the realms of traffic management.
  • February 15, 2019
    China Mobile to trial 5G smart expressway in Hubei province
    Telecoms company China Mobile is working with highway operators to unveil a 5G-based smart expressway programme in China’s central Hubei province. A report by Ecns.com says the company’s Hubei subsidiary is taking steps to choose sites for 5G stations, test intelligent tolling systems and prepare for trials involving driverless cars. China Mobile’s Hubei branch is working with the group’s tech subsidiary in Shanghai and with Hubei Provincial Communications Investment to investigate how ultrafast 5G
  • November 26, 2013
    US favours express buses are for intercity travel
    David Crawford records an upsurge in ground travel. Express buses are powering ahead of air and rail as the US’ most-favoured form of intercity travel and major operators are investing in passenger-attracting and retaining technologies. At the same time ‘kayak’-style price comparison websites are emerging to widen rider choice. Modelled on airline industry search engines that find cheap flight deals by comparing carriers’ offers, these new websites aim to fill the same gap for a ground-travel equivalent