Days after Toyota boss Akio Toyoda showed his displeasure over electric vehicles (EVs), the Japanese automaker has introduced a tiny EV called C+pod.
The ultra compact EV that can seat only two people packs a 9kWh battery, that’s good for a drive range of up to 150 km and attains a top speed of up to 60 km/h.
Exterior of Toyota C+pod
According Toyota, it will sell C+pod in 2021 to “corporate users, local governments and other organizations that have been exploring new options to drive the popularization of BEVs”. The full-scale launch to individual customers is scheduled for 2022.
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The production of the C+pod EV will take place at Toyota’s Motomachi plant in Japan. Available in two versions, the Toyota C+pod is priced a little on the higher side at 1,650,000 yen (PKR 25.39 lac) for X grade, and 1,716,000 yen (PKR 26.40 lac) for G grade considering for a small EV of this size.
Interior of Toyota C+pod
Toyota which is best known for producing a array of reliable & trusted passenger, commercial & off-road internal combustion engine vehicles & a considered as a pioneer in developing mass produced hybrid cars is late towards adapting to battery electric vehicles, whereas Chinese, South Korean, European and American automakers already have a good number of EVs in their lineup.
Related: Toyota Chief Not Happy with EV Revolution
And with world putting a ban on sales of internal combustion vehicles within the next 10-15 years, Toyota needs to catch up on the EV bandwagon before it gets too late. The C+pod might just be a beginning for Toyota with more EVs expected to be introduced down the line.
Toyota C+pod specs:
- Range: 150 km (WLTC Class 1 test cycle – does not include highway driving)
- Battery: 9.06 kWh
- Top speed: 60 km/h
- Rear Wheel Drive
- Output of 9.2 kW (2.6 kW continuous), 56 Nm of torque (permanent magnet electric motor)
- AC charging: 5 hours at 200 V/16 A charging point
- Dimensions: Length x Width x Height (mm): 2,490 x 1,290 x 1,550
- Wheelbase (mm): 1,780
- Curb weight: 670-690 kg
- Seating Capacity: 2
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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