The Toyota i-Road Will Roam the Streets of Tokyo

Published on March 20, 2014 in Technology/Autonomous Vehicles by Frédérick Boucher-Gaulin
Toyota i-Road

The citizens of Tokyo are used to unusual things. This spring however, a new type of vehicle will probably make them do a double take when they see it silently glide past them: The Toyota i-Road, a fully-electric personal transporter.

The small 3-wheeler represents a good compromise between a motorcycle and a car. The i-Road is equipped with a gyroscope enabling it to lean into a turn, much like a motorbike. And since it is only 2.3 meters long and 80 cm wide, parking in a busy metropolis like Tokyo will be a breeze. Top speed is limited to 60 km/h, but that’s enough for city driving. The vehicle has a 50 km range.

The experiment, which starts on March 24 and will go on until June, will lend 10 i-Roads to 20 people. The Ha:mo system will also be experimented. Combining a GPS and an itinerary calculator, Ha:mo will evaluate the most efficient way of travelling to your destination, using the available i-Road, rental bikes, public transport and your own two legs…