Toyota's the i-Road, a compact all-electric three-wheeled vehicle

Toyota i-Road: Leaning toward a city near you

Electric 3-wheeler has maneuverability of a motorcycle, cabin of a car and ease of vehicle sharing.

By Douglas Newcomb 1 hour ago

If futurist predictions come true, the global population will become increasingly urbanized, leading to the further growth of “mega cities” — and to what’s been termed as global gridlock as more vehicles take to the roads.

 

Toyota’s solution is the i-Road, a compact all-electric three-wheeled vehicle that has been turning heads on the streets of Toyota City, Japan, for its unusual appearance as well as its potential. The i-Road’s rear third wheel (think of it as a reverse tricycle) gives it a pivotal form of operation that’s similar to riding a motorcycle, although it’s more stable and therefore safer — and also fun.

Like a motorcycle or bicycle, the i-Road can weave through traffic and is far more maneuverable than a car since it takes up less space. Unlike a motorcycle, the i-Road has an enclosed canopy so the driver won’t get windblown and can stay warm and dry.

Because of traffic-clogged metropolises as well as the related issue of increasing air pollution — which is already coming to pass in the most crowded parts of China — automakers are experimenting with alternative vehicles that bear no resemblance to traditional cars.

The i-Road, which weighs about 650 pounds and is just under 3 feet wide, is also far more efficient than a car and has zero emissions. Toyota envisions that it could also cost less to own than a car — or that drivers wouldn’t have to own one at all. 

The i-Road is being introduced into Ha:mo, Toyota's experimental urban transport system in Japan, by making the three-wheelers available to Toyota City residents at vehicle-sharing stations. Drivers book an i-Road via their smartphones and complete a trip through the city without burning a drop of gas or having to actually own (and also park) their own car. Next, residents of Grenoble, France will get the chance to share in the three-wheeling fun when a similar i-Road-sharing project begins there soon.

Along with the FV2 Toyota introduced last November, the i-Road is the company’s three-wheeled vision of the future of mobility. And it looks much more fun than sitting in a mega-city traffic jam.

[Source: Toyota]