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Toyota unveiled the i-Road concept at the Geneva Motor Show today (March 5) - a three-wheeled, electric Personal Mobility Vehicle (PMV) for urban driving. It is designed to occupy no more space than a motorbike or scooter but to provide better weather protection than traditional two-wheeled vehicles.

Exterior

The i-Road uses two wheels at the front with a single wheel at the rear. At 850mm wide and 2.3 metres long it is about the same size as a large motorcycle but features fully enclosed bodywork to eliminate the need for a crash helmet or protective clothing. Compact dimensions mean the i-Road can filter through traffic and four can park in a standard parking space.

Interior

Two seats are provided in a tandem layout; back seat space appears to be on the tight side but should be fine for short journeys. The driver gets a squared-off wheel and digital instrument display - unlike most bikes and scooters the i-Road comes with a heater, sound system and Bluetooth.

Mechanicals

A lithium-ion battery powers two 2kW electric motors in the front wheels. Range is claimed to be 30 miles and recharging from the domestic mains supply should take three hours.

To keep things stable Active Lean technology moves the front wheels up and down to lean into corners. The angle of tilt is managed by a computer based on steering angle, gyro sensor feedback and vehicle speed. In addition the system adjusts the front wheels when travelling in a straight line to compensate for changes in the road surface. This means the driver doesn't need to put a foot on the ground to keep the vehicle upright.

Anything else?

Toyota doesn't necessarily expect the i-Road or other PMVs to take the place of the family car; rather that commuters will use them on a 'park and ride' basis, driving to hubs on the outskirts of town where they can transfer to a PMV to complete their journey to the city centre.

John Lambert - 5 Mar 2013