All of us at Reno Toyota are proud to stock our showroom with such a great variety of new Toyota models that are versatile, reliable and efficient. Especially since models like the 2013 Toyota Prius Hybrid are utilizing alternative fuel sources to maximize efficiency. That being said, the automaker took this concept of electric mobility a step further at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
The highly anticipated debut that had auto enthusiasts quite excited was of the Toyota i-Road concept. This new intriguing yet affordable vehicle is a small electric three-wheeler with a closed canopy. Its most notable feature is called the "Active Lean" system, which allows the vehicle to adjust its balance and lean to the proper side when traveling around a curve or over rougher terrain.
Let's take a closer look at how this innovation works. The Active Lean system operates when the degree of lean is calculated based on the steering angle, a gyro-sensor, and the vehicle's speed. To activate the lean, the system then moves the wheels up and down to safely stabilize the car.
In terms of efficiency, when fully charged the i-Road vehicle has a driving range of up to 31 miles according to Toyota. It sports a 2-kilowatt electric motor coupled with a lithium-ion battery and can easily be charged in household power outlets within three hours.
Although Toyota hasn't confirmed any plans for production, it did mention that this concept would be ideal for congested urban areas. In particular when considering its compact size of being only 7.7 feet long, 4.7 feet high, and 2.8 feet wide, maneuvering narrow busy streets would be a breeze. We would certainly love to see this concept become further developed in the future.
To check out the current innovations available at 2100 Kietzke Lane Reno, NV 89502, we invite all of you in the Reno and Carson City areas to come by for a visit. We would be happy to schedule you for a test drive with any of our new or used Toyota models and answer any questions that you may have regarding Toyota financing. We look forward to seeing you soon!
