Details of the production-readyToyotaIQ Electric Vehicle (EV) have been revealed. However, Toyota has made it clear that challenges in the form of limited range, long recharging times and limited re-charging infrastructure stand in the way of the iQ EV going into production. Even though Toyota is ready with the iQ EV, it will rather focus its commercial activities on providing a plug-in hybrid solution for the short to medium term to meet customer requirements.

Toyota iQ EV is an urban mover and shaker

Drawing on Toyota’s vast experience in Electric Vehicle (EV) research and development spanning 40 years, the iQ EV utilises Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive platform as its core technology and was designed as a compact, zero emissions urban city car that can seat up to four people.

The Toyota iQ EV’s fully electric powertrain comprises an air-cooled, 47kW electric motor, a 150 cell, a 12.0 kWh, 277.5 V battery pack, a 3 kW water-cooled battery charger, an inverter, an DC/DC converter and a motor speed reduction mechanism. The iQ EV produces a maximum torque figure of 163Nm and acceleration to 100km/h takes 14 seconds while reaching a top speed of 125km/h.

The Toyota iQ EV can be charged in about three hours using a standard 230V household outlet. A dedicated rapid charger compliant port is available as an option which allows the battery to be 80% re-charged in only 15 minutes. The NEDC-certified range for the iQ EV is 85km between charges.

Exterior Styling

The exterior design of the Toyota iQ EV takes inspiration from the FT-EV III concept shown at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show and makes use of two-tone, White-Pearl and Black to create a simple yet bold exterior appearance. The simple front-end sees the removal of the upper grille and is replaced with a charging port lid next to the Toyota badge. The lower bumper adopts trapezoidal, Under Priority character lines and an enlarged lower grille with a gloss black finish. Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are incorporated into the grille. The headlamps incorporate gloss black and side extension battery cooling air inlets while the halogen headlamp housing are also finished in black.

The rear-end features a black tailgate and a new LED combination lamp design above a trapezoidal license plate mounting area. New aluminium wheels with two-tone wheel caps reinforce the vehicle’s unique all-electric credentials.

Interior Styling

The interior is finished in a bold, high contrast black and white colour scheme. The partial leather upholstery also features contrasting black and white finishes. The Toyota iQ EV features an exclusive driver’s instrument binnacle with Optitron metres styled to resemble electrical componentry such as a generator turbine and printed circuitry. It incorporates a central speedometer with EV System Indicator-linked changing colour illumination, a 3.5” TFT (Thin Film Transistor) multi-information display, a compact, high contrast LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a plug-in indicator.

The TFT screen displays comprehensive vehicle information while the default setting shows basic information such as driving range, charge state and output/regeneration status. The screen may also be switched through seven other screens namely average/instant power consumption, post charge power consumption, electrical equipment usage information, driving range, total average vehicle speed/total driving time, EV battery information and settings.

As an alternative to the Toyota iQ EV, customers can opt for the Prius Plug-in Hybrid that offers 25km pure electric driving and is backed up by an efficient hybrid system that delivers a range of over 1200km without recharging or re-fuelling.