Toyota i-Road starts testing 24 | 03 | 2014

TOYOTA HAS BEGUN trials of its new three-wheeled personal mobility vehicle, the all-electric i-Road, in Tokyo. According to the Japanese car maker, the first pass of tests will determine how it copes in the urban environment.

Using a range of testers — including industry experts and the general public — they will run a fleet of 10 i-Road vehicles, and will feed back information on what it's like to drive, how easy it is to use and driver satisfaction.

Powered by two in-wheel electric motors, producing a combined output of 5.4bhp, the i-Road has a top speed of 28mph, with a range of just over 30 miles, if driven economically. Charging takes just over three hours from a standard domestic supply.

Measuring 2350mm long by 1445mm high and with a wheelbase of 1700mm, up to four i-Roads could be parked in a single standard car parking bay.

Significantly, i-Road also includes Toyota's 'Active Lean' technolgy, which alloys the vehicle to lean into corners according to information gathered from a gyro sensor.

The next phase of the global testing programme will see as many as 70 units of the two-seat i-Road begin testing in the French city of Grenoble later this year.

Related: New Toyota Aygo previewed

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Jim McGill