The new Toyota i-Road Personal Mobility Vehicle (PMV) concept has made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show as a new form of transport designed to reduce suburban traffic, CO2 and NOX particulate emissions, all without compromising individual freedom of mobility.

Toyota i-Road concept is a vehicle for two

Seating two occupants in tandem position, the Toyota i-Road concept is a three wheel electric vehicle with a range of up to 50km. The model is fitted with a lithium-ion battery which powers a pair of 2kW electric motors mounted within the front wheels. The battery can be recharged from a conventional power supply in just three hours.

Furthermore, the vehicle forms part of Toyota’s future eco cars using Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) technology for use in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).

The Toyota i-Road features an ‘Active Lean’ technology system that uses a lean actuator and gearing mounted above the front suspension which is linked through a yoke to the front wheels. The system provides a safe and enjoyable way to drive as the driver and passenger don’t have to wear helmets, which makes it easier for the i-Road to travel through city traffic, more so as the vehicle is no wider than a conventional motorbike.

Since the ‘Active Lean’ system suppresses any need for the driver’s feet to be on the road surface at any time, the i-Road may be equipped with a safer, waterproof and closed body construction. This means that the Toyota i-Road can be driven without a helmet and allows for more car-like benefits such as lighting, heating, an audio system and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.

The Toyota i-Road concept therefore has the potential to play a significant role in reducing urban traffic congestion and air pollution.