By Robert Nichols
Visitors to the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto had the opportunity to see what the future of urban transport could look like. Toyota will be displaying and demonstrating its all-electric 3-wheel i-Road.
This unique vehicle blends the comfort and security associated with the enclosed space of a car with the compact dimension and leaning ability of a motorcycle.
Through what Toyota calls the “active lean system”, the i-Road is said to eliminate the instability commonly found in three wheel vehicles.
“The i-Road concept is an excellent example of how Toyota is focused on introducing creative solutions that transform personal mobility,” said Seiji Ichii, President and CEO, Toyota Canada Inc. “These are concepts that are environmentally friendly while at the same time sparking the imagination with great excitement.”
A further advantage of the i-Road is it can be operated without a helmet, great news for those who shy away from bikes due to the dreaded helmet head.
The vehicle is only 870 millimetres wide, allowing it to conquer the urban streets with ease. It is so small it will only occupy ¼ of a parking space, and can be driven smoothly along the side of roads thus leaving room for traditional traffic.
The zero emission i-Road has a range of 50 km on a single charge, and is seen testing in Tokyo City, Japan and Grenoble, France.
By Robert Nichols
Visitors to the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto had the opportunity to see what the future of urban transport could look like. Toyota will be displaying and demonstrating its all-electric 3-wheel i-Road. This unique vehicle blends the comfort and security associated with the enclosed space of a car with the compact dimension and leaning ability of a motorcycle.
Through what Toyota calls the “active lean system”, the i-Road is said to eliminate the instability commonly found in three wheel vehicles.
“The i-Road concept is an excellent example of how Toyota is focused on introducing creative solutions that transform personal mobility,” said Seiji Ichii, President and CEO, Toyota Canada Inc. “These are concepts that are environmentally friendly while at the same time sparking the imagination with great excitement.”
A further advantage of the i-Road is it can be operated without a helmet, great news for those who shy away from bikes due to the dreaded helmet head.
The vehicle is only 870 millimetres wide, allowing it to conquer the urban streets with ease. It is so small it will only occupy ¼ of a parking space, and can be driven smoothly along the side of roads thus leaving room for traditional traffic.
The zero emission i-Road has a range of 50 km on a single charge, and is seen testing in Tokyo City, Japan and Grenoble, France.
