Toyota is developing an EV ride-sharing cycle that could be the ride you hail for a discount if you pedal during the ride to recharge the batteries.
Do you want to hail a ride and get some exercise at the same time? For most of us, the answer to this question is going to be a resounding “no”, but for some, it might become something that we enjoy doing. When you hail a ride with most of the ride-sharing companies of today, you don’t expect to do any of the work and often feel like these vehicles are more personalized cabs that offer a modern feeling, but one idea has surfaced to turn you into a hamster on a wheel.
Lots of Ways to Recharge the Batteries
In the next few years, the ride-sharing vehicles we hail and enjoy will likely be driverless and powered by electricity. Toyota is at the forefront of this technology and has already thought of one of the challenges of the use of these vehicles; range. While the range of batteries uses for EV driving has grown and we expect the charging time to continue to be reduced, the fact is, we’re not at a point where charging is anywhere near as short a time as it takes to fill up with gasoline.
This challenge means that an EV model that’s used for ride-sharing would have to return to the charging location when the batteries run down. This effectively takes the vehicle out of service for a period of time that it takes to charge. While a large fleet of vehicles can be used to handle the ride-sharing needed, every time a vehicle is out of service is fewer models getting people where they need to go, and loss of potential income. There has been one solution proposed that might help, but it’s certainly a far-fetched idea.
Do You Want to be a Toyota Hamster
Would you want to pedal a crank on the floor of the vehicle you ride in if the ride-sharing company offered a discount on the fare you pay to ride along? This is an actual proposal and one that seems to be a bit out in left field, to say the least. If you wanted to pedal your way from your origin to your destination you could simply ride a bicycle and get the exercise on the ride. Of course, pedaling in the EV you hailed could mean you get some exercise and still arrive at your destination when you want.
For most of us, this is going to be a bad idea and we certainly don’t want to be turned into a pedaling fool inside a vehicle just to recharge the batteries. Yes, there’s a tradeoff with a discounted fare and a set of batteries that are charged up more to extend the use of the vehicle, but if you’ve spent a long time preparing yourself for the day or a night out, this is one of the worst ideas. I’m sure there will be other solutions offered in the near future, but this is certainly one we can discuss and laugh about together.
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