Future "smart mobility plan" such as electric motorcycle and "P2P type car sharing" to be considered shifts to the planning execution phase

Ford, one of the world's leading car manufacturers,Car manufacturer"At the same time, it will be necessary to move people and goods"Mobility CompanyIt is announced that various initiatives are proceeding to show the existence significance as "as". In such Ford, think about mobility of the next generation "Ford · Smart Mobility"Research has been conducted, but it was announced that we entered the" planning stage "from the previous survey stage.

Ford Smart Mobility Shifts from Research to Implementation; Company Announces New Programs, Next Areas of Focus | Ford Media Center
https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia-mobile/fna/us/en/news/2015/06/23/ford-smart-mobility-shifts-from-research-to-implementation.html

One solution of smart mobility that Ford considers is "multi-modal mobility (compound moving means)" that combines multiple traveling methods. In the following movieOverview and vehicle imageIs drawn.

Multi-Modal Mobility Solutions - YouTube


"Multi-modal movement is not to move by destination using" single "means of transport such as automobiles or trains, but to move a combination of two or more," said Ford Global Technology CEO Bill Cofflin.


In particular, a new way of thinking is necessary to cope with traffic problems in urban areas where crowd continues. Using bicycle sharing ......


It is one way to do car sharing with more than one.


And of course railroad and ...


It is possible to use public transportation such as a bus. However, these are not necessarily forms of new mobility.


In Ford's thinking "smart mobility", we first head to the destination with a car sharing car and stop the car in the nearby parking space. At this time, it is unnecessary to return the car to the original location by so-called "dumping", and parking position is also secured in advance is one of the points that enhances convenience.


When stopping the car and opening the trunk, electric dedicated electric bicycle "MoDe: Flex"Revealed its appearance.


Then we moved by electric bicycle to the final destination. One way of thinking of smart mobility is to aim at solving traffic problems in urban areas by combining such methods.


A woman who opened the rear door of a large van used for work.


A brand-new electric bicycle came out from the loading platform. This is one of the means for realizing smart mobility.


A loading platform for loading luggage is equipped on the rear wheel, and it seems that "Kachach, Kachach" and loads can be fixed with metal fittings. By transporting the baggage by such means, new mobility in urban areas is realized.


A battery is mounted on the bicycle, and it assists the force necessary for driving.


By dividing from the center of the car body like this ...


It is designed to be housed in a car's trunk, etc., to be deployed at the destination to enable a small turning movement.


Various types of bicycle "MoDe: Flex" to be used are also devised depending on the application.


These bicycles are equipped with a dedicated smartphone application "MoDe: LinkIt is also possible to control using weather and real-time distribution of weather and traffic information.


Furthermore, it is also possible to display the timetable of public transportation, so it becomes possible to smoothly move such as "bicycle → train → bus → destination".


And of course the navigation function while moving is also equipped. Since it informs us with the vibration or light of the handle as the corner approaches, it can be said that it is unique application that is considered so as not to need to look at the screen.


For details of "MoDe: Flex", it is also possible to check further details in the following materials.

(PDF file)CFEC00049_FWF_MoDeFlexEbike_FactSht_R02 - MoDeFlexEbike_FactSht.pdf


Apart from electric bicycles such as MoDe: Flex, Ford thinks "peer-to-peer type" car sharing mechanisms in the following movies.

Ford Credit Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Pilot Program - YouTube


"From the survey we conducted in the whole world, we learned that car sharing that shares cars continues to spread to society," Loretta Ostrem said. Ford's credit-related company "Ford CreditIt is a person who is in charge of product development at the company.


With the flow of such society Ford said, the American car rental company "Getaround", And the British"EasyCar ClubWe are planning a new car sharing system in cooperation with.



If you want to lend your own car and earn income, first register at the site.


Pictures and explanations of your car will be posted on the website.


When a person wanting to rent a car appears and the negotiation is settled, the car is unlocked by operating the smartphone.


This will allow users to get on the car for the first time, so security is also safe.


In this car sharing, the owner of the car owns a vehicle that has received a lease agreement with Ford Credit, and has a mechanism to rent vehicles to users who have been screened in advance. This trial will be conducted first in the six US cities and the London area in the UK.