Open Road Project from Toyota Launching in Tokyo

May 8, 2015

Toyota will be testing out the new i-Road ultra-compact EV concept through the Open Road Project starting this July in Tokyo. This year-long project will allow the automaker to evaluate the new concept in terms of both customization and convenient parking. Toyota will be enlisting the assistance of specialist companies and the public in order to assist with the research of this project.

To research convenient parking, Toyota will be working with parking lot operators and commercial property owners to find small, unused spaces in parking lots with accessibility to plug sockets that could be used to park and charge the i-Road. Through this park of the project, Toyota will be focusing on the concept’s convenient size and its ability to be charged by a standard 100V electrical outlet. Toyota will collect feedback from the participants and analyze it to determine the best course of action.

In order to encourage customization, Toyota will provide participants with the opportunity to custom design an i-Road by allowing them to print out 3D images of vehicle parts that have been designed in their choice of color and pattern. A total of 10 i-Road vehicle will be provided to participants for testing, each of the 100 participants will be given one month to test out the model and then provide feedback to Toyota on ways to improve the concept.