Pedal-Powered Eco Cabs Debut in Sweden

If you visit Stockholm any time soon, you’ll have a new eco-friendly option for getting around the city: human-powered ‘eco cabs’. They don’t have A/C and probably aren’t the best choice if you’re in a hurry to get to the airport or something, but one bonus is you’ll be going slow enough to get a good tour of the scenery while en route.

Treehugger has it:

The Ecocab, that jazzy three-wheeled improvement on the older pedicab/rickshaw idea, debuted the first of May in Toronto and has been seen in cities such as Dublin and in Berlin for last year’s World Cup. In Toronto, advertising is to be the main revenue for cab company owners, at least at first. But while the new Stockholm-based fleet of eight Ecocabs trolling the inner city are brightly emblazoned with ads, they also cost cold hard cash, in some cases more than a regular taxi.

Stockholm’s Ecocabs, which will run only from May though September each year, charge 40 Swedish crowns ($6.50) per rider per 15 minute period. The ecocabs have a small 12v self-charging battery-driven engine to help the driver power up hills and run the indicator lights, and can reach a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour, though the average speed is closer to half that.

Something about sitting pretty while some poor schmuck has to work his ass off to pedal you around seems sorta wrong, but it’s certainly a great alternative to riding in a gas-powered automobile. Just be sure to give him a sugar cube and pat him on the head when you get to your destination.

Link [Treehugger]

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