R&D – Toyota i-road: an electric three-wheeler, soon in France –

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Toyota i-road: an electric three-wheeler, soon in France

R & amp; D - Toyota i-road: an electric three-wheeler, soon in France -

The Japanese automobile giant Toyota has just unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show an intriguing vehicle: the i-road. This concept will serve as the basis for a two-seater electric three-wheeler, to be tested in the streets of Grenoble in less than two years.. Presentation…

After ten years of imagining, sketching and exhibiting various more or less eccentric machines, the world number one in the automobile (2012) decided to put the pencil down and start producing a vehicle intended for the urban network….

Toyota Motor Corporation is in fact committed, within the framework of a project called Ecocite starting at the end of 2014, to supply the city of Grenoble "around 70 ultra-compact electric vehicles, including the "coms" produced by Toyota Auto Body (small utility vehicles with four wheels, Editor’s note), as well as a new vehicle based on the i-road concept".

This new concept, the public of the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show will be able to discover it from tomorrow on the Toyota stand. Site readers – who, as everyone knows, have a little more luck than others – are entitled to a little tour of the owner.

"The concept of "personal mobility" designates a new form of vehicle and a new mode of transporting people.", states Toyota on its official website."Designed to reduce the energy consumption of each person on the move, this new model of mobility sets itself apart from traditional cars"… but also scooters !

Because if the i-road shares the same number of wheels as the now famous Piaggio MP3, and leans like it in the bends, it is greatly distinguished by its driving position and its directional rear wheel.!

The grip – the steering wheel, not the handlebars! – of this three-wheeler does not appear to be as natural as that of an MP3 or a Metropolis … for bikers and scooter riders at least! However, the latter should find their way around in terms of size since the Toyota’s dimensions are reduced..

According to its manufacturer, the i-road is only 2350 mm long – it is two-seater -, 1445 mm high – it has a roof – and 850 mm wide … i.e. a width greater than 90 mm than that of an MP3 LT, but less than that of a 390 mm Twizy.

The three-wheeler from Toyota could therefore squeeze more easily into the alleys than the four-wheeler from Renault, which it will compete with as a priority. The Japanese engineers have also calculated that four of their machines could park in the same car parking space, and that the turning radius would be limited to 3 m, for a wheelbase of 1.7 m..

Unfortunately, it should be impossible to park the i-road in a two-wheeler space due to its doors opening like those of a car. Toyota has a few months to rectify the situation on the final version which will roll in less than two years in Grenoble…

To move forward precisely, the i-road is equipped with a pair of electric motors each developing 2 kW, mounted on the two front wheels. Nerves of war, the autonomy of the machine is estimated at 50 km while traveling at a (fixed) speed of 30 km / h, and the full charge time of the lithium-ion batteries at just three hours.

Toyota finally indicates that the i-road does not require setting foot on the ground, at very low speed or at a standstill, its driver can possibly benefit from a complete cabin with lighting, heating, audio system and Bluetooth connection. .. So many options that will increase the base price, unknown to date. Stay connected !

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