Toyota has hinted at plans for an all-electric microcar designed to help ease congestion and pollution in cities.
The FT-Me concept is a two-seat electric city car which the brand says offers a new means of transport for urban dwellers and last-mile delivery operators.
Clearly intended to challenge models such as the Citroen Ami, Mobilize Duo and Ark Zero, the FT-Me is designed as an L6e quadricycle, meaning in some European markets teenagers as young as 14 could drive it.
However, Toyota says it wants the FT-Me to offer safety levels closer to ‘proper’ passenger cars, as well as a class-leading range and carbon footprint that’s 90% lower than a traditional city car.
While not giving away any technical specifications, Toyota Europe’s head of new mobility Stijn Peeters said that an FT-Me battery was 1/8th the size of a ‘regular’ EV and three times more efficient, adding that Toyota was aiming for a range of at least 62 miles.
He also said it would have a top speed of 28mph as per the L6e regulations and the concept vehicle featured innovations such as roof-mounted solar panels that could add up to 18 miles of range per day.
While currently a concept, it seems likely the FT-Me will make it into production as Toyota looks to new ways to provide private transport in cities where congestion is a growing problem and low-emissions zones are springing up rapidly.
Peeters said that with more than 1,000 LEZ already operational in Europe and a growing number of cities giving over more road space to other users, a ‘one-size-fits-all solution is no longer the mobility solution for urban environments’.
He said that the FT-Me was intended for users ranging from private owners seeking an urban vehicle for a teenager or as a second vehicle to car sharing clubs and city-based businesses.
Like rival quadricycles, the FT-Me uses a smartphone in place of a built-in display and features geofencing and tracking for car-sharing use. The concept also featured customisable body panels, and a removable passenger seat to create more cargo space and allow for loads up to 1.6m in length to be carried.
Asked about pricing, Peeters said that any production version of the FT-Me would need to compete at the lower end of the market and with other monthly outgoings such as mobile phone contracts and TV streaming services, suggesting a sub-£10,000 price.
