Toyota iQ EV, 85 km of range for pure electric driving

Toyota has unveiled a new pure electric prototype, the iQ EV. As with the RAV4 EV, this tiny city car undergoes small changes to both its bodywork and its length. It will be presented at the Paris International Motor Show, and the brand already has it ready for commercialisation, although it is still unknown when that will be.

Although the width and height of the vehicle remain intact, its length increases from the 2.99 metres of the current model to 3.12 metres for the electric variant. It receives aerodynamic improvements such as a streamlined underbody and front parts that previously served to ventilate the combustion engine, which have now been reduced.

The batteries powering this drivetrain are lithium-ion, divided into 150 cells, and have been placed under the seats, protected by a very strong metal. With them the iQ can cover up to 85 km, but thanks to its small size 80% of them can be recharged from a three-phase socket in just 15 minutes. A full charge from a standard current takes around 3 hours.

The electric motor, with 64 cv of power (47 kW), allows its rotation to be reversed during deceleration phases to recover the lost energy. This system acts from the moment we lift off the accelerator or gently press the brake pedal.

The weight increases by more than 125 kg, so it is only capable of reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in 14 seconds and a top speed of 125 km/h. With these figures and its size, it is a vehicle designed exclusively for the city.

To make the most of the engine’s qualities, the engineers have developed three different operating modes. The first, known as B-Range, recharges the batteries to the maximum during deceleration phases. The next is D-Range, which seeks to minimise consumption, while the third, called S-Range, improves acceleration.

Source | Toyota