On May 1st EcoCab will be arriving in Toronto. It’s already all of the rage in 50 cosmopolitan cities around the world and Toronto is now poised to join that illustrious group. They actually look like a futuristic motorized rickshaw and in fact EcoCab runs primarily on the pedal-power of a trained driver, and can be supported by 2 small self charging 12 volt batteries that regulate the motor in addition to powering the front, rear, and indicator lights. It can reach speeds of up to 12 km per hour.

The service is absolutely free of charge and free of any emissions. EcoCabs are not a new fangled invention. They have been around since 1997 and were the official transport service of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and the 2006 soccer World Cup in Germany. They are designed and manufactured in Germany. An ideal vehicle for short-distance urban transportation they can navigate with ease through busy city streets. They should prove invaluable during Toronto’s summer festivals by offering free shuttle service.

On April 21st the media will have a chance to get a sneak peak at the EcoCab from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM at Yonge – Dundas Square. It sounds like a very novel idea. But, I have a ton of questions. The service is free, but there is no such thing as free. What kind of revenue will be derived from the vehicles? Who is going to be buying and maintaining the EcoCabs? How many are being purchased? Who is going to provide the training in their operation? Are people going to apply to be EcoCab drivers? What happens in winter? Have you ever seen or taken a ride in an EcoCab?