2013 Toyota iQ EV

At 3,120 mm overall, the new Toyota iQ EV is just 135 mm longer than a standard iQ, sharing the latter’s overall width of 1,680 mm, height of 1,505 mm and 2,000 mm wheelbase. A minimum turning circle of just 4.1 metres offers excellent urban manoeuvrability.

The new Toyota iQ EV combines compact city car agility with zero emissions and the easy, silent driving style of a fully electric vehicle.

Its small, 4.1 metre turning circle gives it excellent manoeuvrability in the urban environment, and the position of the battery pack beneath the vehicle floor creates a low centre of gravity and ideal front/rear weight distribution for excellent ride comfort and agile, engaging handling.

A further development of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology, the iQ EV’s fully electric powertrain comprises an air-cooled, 47 kW electric motor/generator, a 150 cell, a 12.0 kWh, 277.5 V battery pack, a 3 kW water-cooled battery charger, an inverter, an DC/DC converter and a motor speed reduction mechanism.

The motor/generator, planetary gear speed reduction mechanism and torque biasing differential are all housed in a new, ultra-compact, EV-exclusive transaxle, which combines a low centre of gravity with reduced energy losses to minimise power consumption.

Maximum torque of 163 Nm is delivered, from a standstill, to the front wheels, giving the Toyota iQ EV 0-100 km/h acceleration of 14.0 seconds and a maximum speed of 125 km/h.

The new Toyota EV generates zero CO2, NOx or particulate emissions throughout its operation. With a power consumption of 134 Wh/km, this equips the vehicle with an NEDC-certified range of 85 km between charges.

Similar to Toyota’s full hybrid vehicles, the iQ EV is equipped with a regenerative braking system. When decelerating with the accelerator pedal released, the rotation of the wheels is transmitted to the motor, which acts as a generator, converting kinetic energy into electricity for storage within the battery.

The iQ EV’s gate-type gear shift lever offers drivers three driving ranges: D-range controls the vehicle to consume the least amount of power during city driving; S-range increases acceleration performance for brisk driving; and B-range maximises regenerative braking to extend the vehicle’s driving range as far as possible.

Via an illuminated battery charger inlet conveniently located beneath a discreet, flush-mounted panel at the front of the new Toyota iQ EV, the battery pack can be fully recharged in approximately 3 hours from a standard, 230 V household outlet.

A dedicated rapid charger compliant port is available as an option, enabling the battery to be 80% recharged in just 15 minutes, greatly enhancing the new Toyota EV’s everyday practicality.

2013 Toyota iQ EV Photo Gallery
Image Credit: © Toyota