Published

Toyota Readies Tiny EV and Scooters

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to launch a tiny electric city car late next year in Japan.  
#hybrid

Share

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to launch a tiny electric city car late next year in Japan.

 

Measuring 98 inches long, the ultra-compact two-seater has an estimated driving range of 100 km (62 miles) and a top speed of about 60 kpm (37 mph). Toyota says the car can be fully recharged in five hours from a 220-volt outlet.

A production-ready model (above) will be publicly unveiled at this month’s Tokyo auto show. As part of the exhibit, Toyota will offer test rides in several other concept electric devices.

Toyota envisions the car being used by newly licensed drivers, intra-city salespeople and the elderly. Earlier this year, the carmaker showed a boxier, single seat concept version (right) of the vehicle that was designed to be a mobile office.

 

In addition to the city car, Toyota plans next year to introduce an electric scooter for standing riders. This will be followed in 2021 by a e-scooter with a seat and an electric attachment for manual wheelchairs.

Toyota say it is talking with more than 100 corporate and government partners on potential applications. The company also is evaluating various business models for the EVs, including reusing and/or recycling batteries.

RELATED CONTENT

  • On Automotive: An All Electric Edition

    A look at electric vehicle-related developments, from new products to recycling old batteries.

  • Jeeps Modified for Moab

    On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.

  • On Electric Pickups, Flying Taxis, and Auto Industry Transformation

    Ford goes for vertical integration, DENSO and Honeywell take to the skies, how suppliers feel about their customers, how vehicle customers feel about shopping, and insights from a software exec

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions