Paris is testing out a new form of travel: an eco-friendly bubble-shaped taxi that zips along the water up and down the Seine River. Organizers are holding test runs this week on the white, oval-shaped electric hydrofoil boats that resemble tiny space shuttles gliding past Paris monuments.
Cofounder Anders Bringdal of Sweden stands onboard a SeaBubble by the Eiffel Tower during a test on the Seine.
Photo by AP Photo/Francois Mori
They can fit four passengers, and if they get approved, can be ordered on an app like land taxis, shared bikes, or other forms of transport. Its designers hope to run the so-called Seabubbles commercially in Paris and other cities starting next year.
A man steps into a hydrofoil SeaBubble boat during a September test in Paris.
Photo by AP Photo/Francois Mori
Proponents see the vehicle as a new model for the fast-changing landscape of urban mobility. Its designers claim it makes “zero sound, zero waves, zero carbon dioxide.’’ >> Next: 8 Easy Ways to Lessen Your Impact as a Traveler
