CES 2018: Toyota reveals autonomous electric vehicle project

Toyota has unveiled its new mobility service concept vehicle, the E-palette, a self-driving electric vehicle that can be configured to carry passengers, parcels or even pizzas.

The battery-electric vehicle was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas by Toyota President, Akio Toyoda, who said the e-Palette concept vehicle would be developed by an alliance of partners seeking to address the changing needs of their customers.

"This announcement marks a major step forward in our evolution towards sustainable mobility, demonstrating our continued expansion beyond traditional cars and trucks to the creation of new values including services for customers”, said Toyoda.

Under development through a consortium of big-name global businesses, E-Palette is expected to be available in three sizes, ranging from four to seven metres in length, and will offer a flexible interior, the fit-out of which can be adapted depending on the needs of the customer.

Thanks to a flat and interior layout designed with a low floor, the vehicle will be able to be adapted for a wide range of functions including a self-driving pizza delivery service, ride-sharing vehicle and mobile e-commerce solution.

Member companies joining Toyota in its e-Palette alliance are Amazon, Uber, Pizza Hut, Chinese ride-sharing company Didi and technology partner, Mazda.

The alliance will use Toyota's own mobile services platform to create and evaluate the new vehicle and grow a new ecosystem around it.

Unlike conventional vehicle development, in which car companies abide by their own electronic protocols, the e-Palette alliance will use an open vehicle control interface and a set of software tools to allow partner companies to install their own automated driving system and vehicle management technology.

For companies which are already advanced in autonomous vehicle development, such as Uber, their system could be installed in an e-Palette vehicle but would be underpinned by Toyota’s own Guardian technology which will act as a safety net to help ensure appropriate operation.

Development of the e-Palette platform is now underway with prototype e-Palette vehicles expected to play a role in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Additional uses for the e-Palette concept are expected to be announced too, with Toyota continuing conversations with a number of other potential partners.