Toyota Reveals Electric Three-Wheeler Concept

Toyota Motor Corp.'s new three-wheeled electric city vehicle, called i-Road, uses two 2-kW motors in the front wheels to carry two passengers for about 30 miles per charge.

The motorcycle-like concept can be fitted with a weatherproof enclosure and is equipped with Toyota's "active lean" system. The technology separately adjusts the height of each front wheel to create a stable cornering attitude.

A gyroscope maintains vehicle balance at low speeds and when stationary, so the operator does not need to hold up the i-Road as is necessary with a conventional motorcycle.

The system involves an actuator, gearing and yoke that links the two front wheels. A control unit calculates the necessary degree of lean based on steering, gyro and speed inputs and shifts the elevation of each wheel accordingly.

The system makes the same adjustment when the i-Road is traveling in a straight line and encounters an uneven road surface.

The i-Road is 7.7 feet long, 4.7 feet tall and only 2.8 feet wide. Toyota says four of the vehicles can be parked in the space required for one conventional vehicle.