Toyota Motor Sales USA has detailed the plans for its electric iQ EV fleet rollout at the Future Mobility Seminar in Denver this week. About 90 iQ EVs will be rolled out on campuses and in metropolitan areas before year's end, though they will only be available for short-term rental periods, rather than for lease or purchase.
The carmaker chose this approach because in either environment, the commuting distances are "likely to be short, charging opportunities numerous, and its compact proportions beneficial," according to Chris Hostetter, group vice president of strategic planning at Toyota Motor Sales.
Exactly where the iQ EVs will see duty won't be revealed until a few weeks later.
The car can fit four in a pinch and is powered by a 63-horsepower-equivalent electric motor that makes 120lb-ft of torque. It can be coaxed up to a top speed of 78mph and can reach up to 50 miles on a full charge and under ideal conditions. For a full charge, it needs three hours when plugged into a Level 2, 240V chargers.
The car has D, B, and S driving modes, with D minimizing power drain in city driving, while S being the sporty mode that allows the car to sprint to 60mph in 13.4 seconds. B puts a priority on the efficiency of the regenerative brakes.
The iQ EVs, called Scions in the U.S., will be available in Silver and Super Red, with either color getting a black top half, rear hatch, battery cooling inlets, and headlamps.
