Toyota reveals two-seat baby EV

Having made its name synonymous with hybrids, Toyota is finally turning its attention to all-electric vehicles.

Fresh from revealing two EV concepts ahead of next week’s Tokyo motor show – one previewing its next-generation Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell model and the autonomous LQ concept -- Toyota has presented an ultra-compact battery-electric vehicle it plans to release in Japan late next year.

The Japanese car maker says the tiny two-seat EV is production-ready and will come with a 100km range and top speed of just 60km/h, as well as an extremely tight turning radius.

It’s also tiny, measuring just 2490mm long, 1290mm wide and 1550mm high, and takes about five hours to charge via a 200-volt power outlet.

Toyota development chief Akihiro Yanaka said the unnamed micro-EV is a next-generation mobility solution for transporting elderly, newly licensed or business people over short distances with minimal environmental impact.

"We want to create a mobility solution that can support Japan's ageing society and provide freedom of movement to people at all stages of life," he said.

“With the ultra-compact BEV, we are proud to offer customers a vehicle that not only allows for greater autonomy, but also requires less space, creates less noise and limits environmental impact.”

So far unconfirmed for markets outside Japan (including Australia, where Toyota sells no plug-in vehicles), the baby EV will be shown alongside three production-ready “walking area” single-seat EVs with replaceable batteries at the Tokyo show, where visitors will be able to sample them on a 1.5km path.

While Toyota will also show a one-seat business version of the ultra-compact EV concept, which is billed as a mobile office with three modes to support travelling, working and taking breaks.

Also on display will be the Walking Area BEV Standing Type designed for patrolling, conducting security checks or carrying heavy equipment around large facilities such as airports or factories.

Also due for release in Japan in late 2020, it measures 700mm long, 450mm wide and 1200mm high, has a 10km/h top speed, 14km range and can be charged in 2.5 hours.

Two other walking-area EVs – one for sitting in, the other for wheelchairs – will follow it on sale in Japan in 2021, both with a top speed of 6km/h, minimum range of 10km and a charging time of two hours.

Also on display in Tokyo will be the road-going Toyota i-ROAD single-seater, which has a 50km range and “combines the size of a motorcycle with improved stability to support last-km urban commuting or tourism”.

Meanwhile, Toyota says it’s working on a new business model to support the launch of its battery-powered vehicles in Japan next year, covering insurance, charging infrastructure and every step of a battery's life, from manufacture to sale, resale/re-use and recycling.

With the aim of maximising battery value, Toyota says it will expand leasing initiatives designed to recapture used batteries for evaluation and re-use as appropriate in pre-owned vehicles, as service parts or even in non-automobile applications.