Honda and Toyota preview two tiny EVs
Both Honda and Toyota have previewed two tiny concept electric vehicles (EVs) that will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. Honda has the EV-N retro 2 X 2 seater and Toyota has the futuristic FT-EVII.
The EV-N is part of Honda’s “HELLO!” (Honda Electric mobility Loop) vehicles. Although Honda has focused more on gas/electric hybrids and fuel cell cars, the EV-N shows that Honda might have one electric car up its sleeve.
This electric car is patterned after “the classic Honda N600 of the late 60s and early 70s”. It has room for two people up front and two in back. The backseats fold down giving a little more cargo space.
The roof is solar to charge the car battery and the UX-3 powered unicycle stored in the passenger side door. The UX-3 is a “personal mobility device” that uses balance technology
which was developed through the robotics research of ASIMO, Honda’s bipedal humanoid robot, and the world’s first* omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System, or HOT Drive System), which enables movement in all directions, including not only forward and backward, but also directly to the right and left and diagonally
The small EV will have a minimalist dash board and controls along with “interactive communication technolog[y]” that allows the EV-N to communicate with other Honda’s equipped with the same technology.
The Toyota FT-EVII appears to be a small two person electric vehicle from the future. The car design has changed drastically since the Detroit Auto Show in January . Now the car looks more like the mutant child of a starship mated with a Toyota IQ. The front lights are in between the windshield and the hood on their own little level. The turn signals are tiny little triangles on the side of the car and the steering apparatus and speedometer are a cross between early Buck Rogers and Myst.
The FT-EVII is supposedly created for “the masses” because it goes 60 miles per hour and will get 60 miles to the charge. The size of the car takes it out of the family class but does fit the in town commuter segment.
The Toyota FT-EVII is the second version of this concept car. At the rate these versions are appearing, another one should be out this January. Since this concept car seems to be aiming more for the spaceship look than an actual automobile, the FT-EVIII, if it appears, may come as a hovercraft.
Both Honda and Toyota have devised interesting electric concept cars for the Tokyo Motor Show. Let’s see if either of them make it into production.
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