Sumida Ward will collaborate with iU University of Information, Management and Innovation to conduct a demonstration experiment to verify the feasibility of using personal mobility devices for official duties by ward employees.
Teaming up with Honda’s “Streamo”
This initiative is being carried out as part of the Sumida Ward’s new “(tentative name) Sumida Ward Regional Public Transportation Plan,” which will consider the introduction of new transportation services and the use of personal mobility.
The experiment will be carried out in collaboration with iU, which has signed a comprehensive agreement with the ward, and Abegawa Lab, which has expertise in mobility transformation (MX). The experiment will also utilize the Streamo three-wheeled mobility vehicle, with the cooperation of Streamo, a startup company within the ward and owned by Honda.
The company has previously held awareness events and safety seminars in the ward, and through this demonstration experiment it aims to create momentum for promoting the use of next-generation mobility through public-private-academia collaboration.
A stable tricycle also means high safety.
This will be the first time that a stand-up three-wheeled mobility vehicle will be used for official business in Tokyo. The trial will run from February 3 to February 28, 2025, and training sessions for employees are also planned.
The experiment aims to verify the use of Stremo during official business trips by clarifying the potential and challenges of using personal mobility for official business. Stremo’s unique “balance assist system” allows it to stand on its own even when stopped and to travel stably at low to comfortable speeds.
In addition, it is less likely to lose its course or posture even on cobblestone streets or slopes, allowing it to safely coexist with pedestrians and other forms of transportation. Through this demonstration experiment, it is expected that the potential for and challenges in using personal mobility vehicles in public service will be identified, and knowledge will be gained for future introductions.
