It seems that Toyota is doubling its efforts to promote electric mobility going into 2021. After announcing its plans to commercialize the e-Palette, the Japanese automaker has launched the C+pod ultra-compact battery electric vehicle (BEV).
If this tiny car seems familiar to you, that’s because it is the production version of the “Ultra-compact BEV” that was introduced at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. Judging by the design, at least, the C+pod has made it to production virtually unchanged.
Toyota said that the C+pod will initially be sold to “corporate users, local governments and other organizations that have been exploring new options to drive the popularization of BEVs“, while individual customers will be able purchase it by 2022.
The C+pod is offered in X and G trims, with prices starting from 1,650,000 yen (RM64,732) for the former and 1,716,000 yen (RM67,321) for the latter. The BEV is intended strictly for urban use as it has a driving range of only 150 km, with a top speed of 60 km/h. Check out its full specifications below:
PRESS RELEASE
Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced today a limited launch of the “C+pod” ultra-compact battery electric vehicle (BEV), from December 25, to corporate users, local governments and other organizations that have been exploring new options to drive the popularization of BEVs. Toyota plans to further promote the establishment of systems for popularizing BEVs, including development of new business models, and to conduct a full-scale launch including to individual customers by 2022. Today’s launch will also demonstrate new services that can only be provided by BEVs.
The new C+pod is an environmentally-friendly two-seater BEV designed as a mobility option that improves per-person energy efficiency. In addition to short-distance daily use, the C+pod is also aimed at corporate users visiting customers on a regular basis, and at users in urban or mountainous communities needing safe, unrestricted, and environmentally-friendly transportation options.
To drive further popularization of BEVs, Toyota is expanding its product lineup and forming open collaborations as it works to build new business models. In Japan, it is focusing initially on the C+pod, Walking Area BEVs1, and Toyota i-Road2, with more than 200 corporate and local government partners*3 currently involved in exploring new transportation models.
As one of these collaborative efforts, today’s launch of the C+pod will also demonstrate new services specific to BEVs. One of those services is Toyota Green Charge, a joint project developed with Chubu Electric Power Miraiz Co., Inc. to offer a single point of contact for corporations seeking support when constructing optimal charging facilities or developing electricity plans for BEVs, such as CO2-free power. The service will be jointly implemented in collaboration with Chubu Electric Power Miraiz, Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., and TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc. Other services in planning include the Electric-vehicle sharing service that combines tourist information with the “Toyota Share*4” car-sharing service to promote sightseeing and excursions.
