Individual consumers in Japan may now purchase the new Toyota C + pod. This compact, all-electric microcar was designed with the goal of transforming urban transportation. A compact two-seater vehicle with a range of more than 100 kilometers.
Toyota began selling its innovative, tiny, and worry-free electric vehicle in Japan about a year ago. In the aforementioned Asian country, the Toyota C + pod began its commercial career with the goal of transforming urban transportation in the sector of enterprise fleets. It was also exclusively accessible for business and municipal clients at the time. This has now changed.
For private users, the new C + pod is now available. Toyota’s fascinating electric micro car is now available to the general public. A two-seater vehicle designed to handle the huge metropolis.
It’s worth noting, though, that this model may only be purchased using a certain formula.
The Toyota C + pod is a city-friendly electric microcar.
All units in the C + pod will be available for lease through Toyota dealers and Toyota brand rental and leasing agencies across Japan. The C + pod is a two-seater electric vehicle designed for those who commonly travel short distances with a small group.
The lease agreement provides for the temporary use of the C + pod while also ensuring that the vehicle is collected in all circumstances so that programs to minimize, reuse, and recycle batteries may be implemented. The technical equipment on hand is enough for daily driving. Furthermore, we must always bear in mind what this vehicle’s major purpose and aim are.
A 9.06 kWh lithium-ion battery lies at the core of the new C + pod, and it’s used to power a 12.5 horsepower (9.2 kW) motor with 56 Nm of maximum torque. An engine capable of attaining a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Most notably, Toyota emphasizes that in urban settings, the maximum range is 150 kilometers based on the WLTP cycle.
There are two variations of the C + pod range: X and G. It’s worth mentioning that the power is supplied to the back axle.
For a long time, Toyota has shied away from all-electric vehicles. However, it appears that the Japanese are progressively realizing that their hybrid models may reach their limits in a world without combustion engines, and that the future belongs to completely electric vehicles. The concept study Ultra-Compact BEV, which is currently becoming the present under the moniker C + Pod, showed what Toyota’s electric future may look like at the Tokyo Motor Show in fall 2019.
The radius of the turning circle is 3.90 meters.
The two-seater is 2.49 meters long, 1.29 meters wide, 1.55 meters tall, and has a 1.78 meter wheelbase. It weighs between 670 and 690 kg. It has the best agility for small city centers, with a turning circle of just 3.90 meters. With a towering body and wheels positioned far into the corners, the Toyota C + Pod is a classic kei automobile design.
The thin LED lights are positioned horizontally in the front and vertically in the back. The C + Pod is always painted black above the shoulder line, however there are five other colors to select from for the bottom region.
The rear-axle electric motor is permanently energized and provides controllable values: The constant output is 2.6 kW / 3.5 PS, while the maximum output is 9.2 kW / 12.5 PS, according to Toyota. The maximum torque is 56 Newton meters, and the greatest speed is 60 kilometers per hour, according to the Japanese. The 9.06 kilowatt-hour battery is situated under the body in front of the seats and should provide a maximum range of 150 kilometers for the C + Pod (according to WLTP).
The C + Pod can also provide power.
The charging port on the Toyota C + Pod is hidden under a flap between the headlights. After five hours of recharging at fast charging stations, the battery is fully charged. At a domestic outlet, the procedure takes 16 hours. The battery can be used in both directions. As a result, it is also capable of delivering power. On the passenger side of the dashboard, there is a socket for this function.
Toyota mixes a “stiff and light” plastic shell with an independent suspension system and a traditional shock absorber / coil spring setup in the chassis. The front brakes are disc brakes, while the rear brakes are drum brakes. The 155/70 R13 tires wrap around the 13-inch rims all around. A front impact warning device and parking sensors are among the controllable electronic assistance systems.
The starting point is 13,000 euros.
The Toyota C + Pod’s interior is sparsely equipped. The dashboard has white highlights, which contrasts with the mostly black interior. The dashboard’s digital instruments are located in the center. A number of controls, including those for regulating the automatic gearbox, are located on the center console. A rotary control controls the air conditioning.
Toyota has already begun testing the C + Pod with enterprises, municipal governments, and other groups to see if it is suitable for regular usage. The type developed at the Motomachi facility will also be utilized in vehicle sharing fleets for this reason. Toyota intends to sell the compact electric car to private consumers starting in 2022. The basic “X” model costs 1.65 million yen (about 13,000 euros), while the better-equipped “G” model costs 1.72 million yen (approximately 13,500 euros).
Keyword: Toyota C + Pod, Already on Sale in Japan