Toyota Testing Two-Wheel Electric Mobility Robot in Japan

Electric vehicles have been accepted more readily in Japan than in Europe or the US. The government has been pushing automakers to experiment with zero-emissions mobility. HondaHondaJapan, 1948 > present102 models
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just began testing a small, electric commuter car, and now ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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is starting a one-year trial in the Japanese city of Tsukuba of a two-wheel, electric mobility robot, dubbed the Winglet. The trial runs from July 24 to March 31, 2014. 

The Winglets will be used by Tsukuba municipal employees who will operate them in public with other pedestrians and traffic.

Users stand on the Winglet, and it remains upright while traveling. Toyota says that it aims for the Winglet to foster a society where traveling is safe, freely accessible and fun. These trials are aimed to improve those functions of the vehicle.

The Winglet has a running time of one hour and a top speed of 6km/h. It will go 4km on a charge, and charging to 100% takes 90 minutes. The movement of the passenger’s body controls acceleration, braking and turning.