Toyota Motor Corp will introduce its new the all-electric eco vehicle Toyota i-Road at this years Geneva Motor Show. Well, it can hardly be called a car – Toyota calls the i-Road a Personal Mobility Vehicle. With a width of only 850 mm, it can manoeuvre easily in urban areas.

The vehicle is adorned with just three wheels, meaning it’s just as much a motorcycle as it is a car, and the driver and passenger sit in tandem style instead of side-by-side. This arrangement allows for a very thin 850mm width, which is about the same as a large motorcycle. Because the cockpit is enclosed, the occupants don’t need helmets, and they are shielded from the weather in all seasons.

Also like a traditional two-wheeler, the i-Road tilts through the turns and when driving on uneven surfaces. Toyota says its computer-controlled Active Lean technology automatically balances the vehicle with no input from the driver. The system also operates when the PMV is being driven in a straight line over stepped surfaces, the actuator automatically compensating for changes in the road to keep the body level. The minimum turning circle is just three metres.

The ultra-compact body not only offers excellent maneuverability, but also minimizes space needed for parking. This design also allows for a more car-like environment on board, with the potential for features such as lighting, heating, audio and Bluetooth to be provided.

Despite the automaker’s expertise in hybrid drivetrains, the Toyota i-Road is a pure electric vehicle. It uses a lithium-ion battery to power two 2kW motors mounted in the front wheels, giving brisk acceleration and near-silent running. The EV features a quiet ride and produces zero emissions during operation. Driving range on a single charge is approximately 30 miles (50km), after which the battery can be fully recharged from a conventional domestic power supply in three hours.

Toyota envisages its i-ROAD concept has the potential to play a significant role in reducing urban traffic congestion and air pollution. Commuters can use public transport or conventional private vehicles to travel to urban perimeter transportation hubs where they will transfer to the Toyota i-ROAD to complete their journeys into the city centre.

The new Toyota PMV’s compact size, manoeuvrability, easy parking, rapid charging and choice of an open or closed cabin make it an ideal urban vehicle, designed to reduce congestion and CO2, NOx and particulate emissions without compromising individual freedom of mobility.

You’re welcome to see a video showing the leaning three-wheeler in action.

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