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The Toyota i-Road is the funnest electric vehicle on three wheels
While typically underpowered, small cars can be a hoot to zip around dense cities. They weave in and out of traffic that trap larger vehicles and more importantly, they're easier to park. The electric Toyota i-Road takes that idea and, like a CSI photo, enhances it until it's hard too believe what's going on is actually real. The three-wheeled electric vehicle does have the same attributes as its tiny brethren, but the first time you turn that wheel, you realize its more fun than a typical urban commuter.
Toyota tests ride-sharing with its adorable electric vehicles
"The sharing economy" is a buzzword that's thrown around to talk about services like AirBnB and Lyft, and now it looks as if Toyota wants in on the trend. The automaker is putting 70 electric cars into commission in France, half of them being i-Road EVs, as spotted by Gizmodo. Instead of competing with the existing public transit system that's in place, however, Toyota says this will work alongside the city of Grenoble's infrastructure making the likes of one-way trips, among other things, easier. So long as there's a drop-off station near your destination, there's no need to worry about parking or a return trip, either, apparently. Reserving a ride can be handled with a smartphone app and rental fees start at €3 (about $4) -- cheaper than minimum fare on Uber. In the land of baguette and interested? Service starts in October.
Toyota i-Road EV concept leans like a motorcycle, won't soak you or your wallet
Automakers love to trot out urban-only EV cars, if sometimes only in their dreams, but there's invariably gotchas: think disproportionately large turning circles and a lack of basic protection from the elements. Toyota's new i-Road concept may not be destined for production, but it at least pays more than lip service to real life. The two-seat, three-wheel prototype turns with a motorcycle-style lean, cutting its turn radius to a very city-friendly 9.8 feet. It also has a fully sealed cabin, which allows for such radical features as heating and speakers. We don't see many Model S owners having second thoughts when the i-Road runs out of energy in just 31 miles, but that's not the point. It's more of an alternative to bikes, compact EVs and scooters that doesn't demand frequent fuel pump visits... or a good raincoat.
