Toyota has launched the C+pod, a compact, two-seater urban battery electric vehicle on a limited basis, and is intended for corporate users, local governments in Japan as well as other organisations that have been exploring mobility options. The C+pod is also aimed at corporate users regularly visiting customers in urban or mountainous communities who require unrestricted and environmentally-friendly transportation options, said Toyota.
Measuring 2,490 mm long, 1,290 mm wide and
1,550 mm tall with a 1,780 mm wheelbase, the C+pod has a turning radius of 3.9
m for manoeuvrability through sharp corners on narrow roads and to minimise
steering wheel operation. Motive power comes courtesy of a single permanent
magnet motor producing 12.3 hp and 56 Nm of torque, enabling a maximum speed of
60 km/h. Electricity for the C+pod is provided by a 9.06 kWh lithium-ion
battery, which takes around five hours to attain a full charge from a
200-volt/16-amp single-phase supply, or around 16 hours from a 100-volt/6-amp
single-phase supply. Based on the WLTC Class 1 test cycle, the C+pod has a
range of 150 km.
The Toyota C+pod can also provide a power
supply of up to 1,500 W (100 volts AC) for up to 10 hours through its charging
inlet located between the headlights via an optional power connector. The
compact two-seater urban EV rides on coil spring struts with stabiliser in
front, and a torsion beam rear axle, while braking is handled by discs in front
and drums at the back. Rolling stock is comprised of tyres measuring 155/70R13.
The C+pod has active driver assistance systems to suit its intended urban role,
and features a pre-collision safety system that detects vehicles and
pedestrians both during the day and at night, as well as cyclist detection in
the daytime.
Meanwhile, intelligent clearance sonar
with Parking Support Brakes is present to help avoid collisions or mitigate
damage from contact with walls or other stationary objects at low speeds. In
terms of passive safety, the C+pod employs a structure that absorbs and
disperses impact energy across multiple components, and mitigates impact to
reduce injury to pedestrians.
The exterior of the C+pod features LED
headlights and LED combination tail lamps, while exterior body panels are made
of plastic in order to save weight. Inside, the cabin boasts an interior width
of 1,100 mm, where instrumentation is located in the centre of the dashboard.
Switches are also located in the central panel for the best ease of use, says
Toyota.
The predominantly black cabin can be
paired with five two-tone exterior colour schemes, as well as a trio of
three-tone exterior colour options. For now, the Toyota C+pod is a limited
offering to corporate and government users, though a full-scale launch
including for individual customers is set to take place in 2022, says Toyota.
