Fast Companies

By land, sea and air, four start-ups are looking to revolutionize the way we travel

- Boyd Farrow

EVEN WITHOUT THE chip shortage and the recent cascade of Russia-triggered gas price increases, our attitude to travel is changing rapidly as we confront the pressing challenge of how to cut carbon emissions. Over the last few months, some European countries have started to subsidize public transport, with France even banning all short-haul domestic flights when there is a train alternative of 2.5 hours or less. In the U.S., the government has set aside $66 billion to allow railways operator Amtrak to reestablish itself as a viable nationwide transportation option.

Meanwhile, on both sides of the Atlantic, hundreds of start-ups are coming up with innovative and inspiring green transport ideas, from software-laden smart bikes to batteries that divert energy from electric vehicles to their owners’ homes. Here are four of the more interesting business concepts.

Smile Ahead

“‘All the car you need’ is not just a slogan,” says Merlin Ouboter, cofounder of Microlino, the electric vehicle that looks like it burst out of a Pixar movie. “This is the future of driving.”

The Ouboters—father Wim and sons Merlin and Oliver—are the Swiss family behind the Micro electric scooters. Their latest brainchild is a reimagining of the Isetta bubble car from the 1950s, positioned as a lifestyle purchase for eco-minded urbanites.

“On average, a car is occupied by 1.2 people, traveling a daily distance of less than 20 miles,” says Ouboter. “The Microlino can go 55 miles per hour, has a 142-mile range and can comfortably carry two people and three crates of beer.”