TOYOTA
i-ROAD
The iRoad is a
futuristic poly-marriage of motorcycle, tiny electric compact car, bobsled, and
shopping cart. Sliding behind the wheel feels like getting into a cockpit —
you're fully enclosed in hard plastic and carbon fiber — it's cozy,
comfortable, and incredibly sparse for something so tech'd out. Turn the key,
unlock the emergency brake, and you have just three buttons on the dashboard to
choose from — R, N, and D. A press of the "D" for "Drive"
button and off we go.
The
steering is actually done through the single rear wheel. At low speeds the
i-Road felt exceptionally nimble, like a shopping cart on well-oiled wheels, as
the back end slid out in response to my steering input. The arrangement gives
the i-Road a very tight turning radius, which Toyota's spec sheet notes as 3
meters (9.8 feet). At speed, though, the turning radius became wider due to the
stability mechanisms.
Although
steering the i-Road seems pretty idiot-proof, Toyota fitted it with technology
to mitigate my enthusiastic behavior. With the accelerator floored, it limited
how sharply I could turn, and also vibrated the steering wheel to tell me I was
at the i-Road's limits.
Where
the rear wheel steers, the front wheels are powered, each using an electric
motor of about 2 kilowatts. The range and speed figures show that the i-Road
isn't intended for cross-country trips, instead set for short commutes or
errands. It's top speed of 37 mph (60 kph) classifies it as a neighborhood
electric vehicle (NEV), as does its 30-mile range. Toyota would not give me the
capacity of the i-Road's lithium-ion electric battery pack, but a spokesperson
said that it takes about 3 hours to charge from a standard household outlet.
The
complicated steering system let Toyota keep the i-Road narrow, so it could
maneuver in crowded urban streets. Less than 3 feet wide, Toyota rates it for
one passenger. However, there is a rear seat behind the driver. While this
space might fit a bag of groceries, CNET editor Antuan Goodwin managed to
squeeze in. Even though he did fit, the weight of two adults would likely have
been a challenge for the little i-Road.
The
front seat was reasonably comfortable, and although covered in soft plastics
rather than upholstery, the cabin seemed very car-like. As a convenience, doors
open on either side of the driver, adding flexibility for parking and access.
Toyota
does not currently sell the i-Road, and what I drove was a prototype. However, the
company is currently testing fleets of i-Roads in Japan and in Grenoble,
France, the latter serving as vehicle sharing service. To gauge the US market,
Toyota brought a couple of i-Roads to San Jose, California, and conducted
public driving clinics.
Right
now, the iRoad is still in total test phase and Toyota is unsure at this point
when, if ever, it will go on sale and how much it will cost. But don't be
surprised if you see this agile little space-pod-on-wheels speeding around your
city sometime in the future.
Source
: CNet
