Toyota first unveiled its i-Road prototype at the Geneva Motor Show two years ago. Since then, the electric three-wheeler has undergone testing in Japan and France. The automaker is now reaching out to the public for ideas on how the vehicle could potentially reshape mobility in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The agile car features two wheels up front that move independently of one another, permitting the car to lean into turns like a motorcycle. With a lightweight carbon fiber and reinforced plastic body that measures in at just three feet wide and just seven feet long, the i-Road has been touted as a car that's ideal for urban residents, particularly Millennials, young parents and active seniors.
Now, Toyota is hosting a 'Smart Mobility Challenge' that will invite innovators to come up with a business plan to imagine the potential uses for the i-Road in the Bay Area—beyond car sharing initiatives. The winning entrepreneur will receive $15,000 and the chance to work with the car company to see the plan developed.
Motorcycle-Inspired Automobiles (UPDATE)
Toyota's i-Road Rethinks the Future of Transporation
Trend Themes
1. Agile Electric Vehicles - Automakers can develop lightweight electric vehicles that use motorcycle-inspired technology to improve agility and mobility in urban areas.
2. Smart Mobility Challenges - Companies can hold innovation challenges to engage the public in developing business plans and new applications for emerging transportation technologies.
3. Collaborative Business Plans - Automakers can partner with entrepreneurs to develop innovative businesses and applications for emerging electric vehicle technologies that potentially solve urban mobility challenges.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - Automobile manufacturers can leverage motorcycle-inspired technology to create agile electric vehicles that are suitable for urban mobility needs and car-sharing services.
2. Transportation - The transportation industry can benefit from innovation challenges that create new business plans and applications for emerging electric vehicle technologies that respond to pressing environmental and mobility needs in urban areas.
3. Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneurs can partner with automakers to develop collaborative business plans and innovative electric vehicle applications that respond to the changing mobility needs of the market.