With traffic clogging up the arteries of all major cities, and the health effects of that traffic becoming increasingly known, there is a great opportunity for automakers to reinvent the car for the modern day, and produce a vehicle uniquely designed for mass adoption in urban areas. Now, Toyota is trying to do just that with its new personal mobility vehicle, the i-Road.
If you’re not already familiar with the i-Road, here’s the gist:
- It’s completely electric, meaning no emissions, and its lithium-ion battery can drive about 50km on a single charge – perfect for city commuting
- It’s designed to suit all urban commuters, whether you’re in New York or Tokyo
- Its footprint is very small – even smaller than a Smart Car. Four i-Roads can fit into one parking spot!
Not quite a car, and not quite a motorbike, the i-Road fits into a new class of vehicles. As the video above illustrates, the i-Road driving experience is more akin to skiing than anything else. According to Toyota,
The left and right front wheels move up and down independently synchronized in response to the driver’s steering, and the vehicle automatically selects the optimal lean angle when cornering.
Since the i-Road debuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, we’ve featured it a few times. But as it gets further from a being a simple concept car and nears closer to production, the idea of having a fleet of i-Roads lessening a city’s dependence on traditional cars continues to make the new personal mobility vehicle an appealing new substitute for traditional cars.
And one that will hopefully have a positive impact on commuters’ lifestyles and environmental impacts.
This post has been sponsored by Toyota, but concerns our own opinion.
As soon as it has seating for two it will be a game changer.