iQ EV (Japan, 2012)

Toyota calls the iQ EV a production version of the lightweight FT-EV concepts that it has shown since 2009. That means that the car is a lightweight electric vehicle meant for city driving.

The style of the car is subtly inspired by the FT-EV III concept from the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show with a two-tone black and white paintjob. The front no longer needs a grill; so it is smooth, and it hides the charging port in front.  There are also LED running lights in the front bumper.

Power comes from an air-cooled 63hp and 163Nm electric motor with a 12kWh battery pack. It is all located at the front of the car, and it directly drives the front wheels. The top speed is 125km/h, and it takes 14 seconds to accelerate to 100km/h. It is certified in Europe with an 85km range. To maximize range, it has regenerative braking and an Eco driving indicator.

The iQ EV is 135mm longer than the regular iQ but all other dimensions are the same. Most the extra length comes from the charging port in the front of the car. The battery is located under the car in a steel cradle where the exhaust would usually be. That keeps center of gravity low and does not impede into the passenger area. The floor is also flat to improve aerodynamics. This version of the iQ also uses more high tensile steel to counter the weight increase caused by the battery pack. It weighs 125kg more than a conventional iQ.

Toyota purposefully gave the iQ EV the smallest battery reasonable for the car to keep weight and charging time low. It can be fully charged in three hours, or it can be charged to 80% in 15 minutes with a fast charger. It is also equipped with a heat pump instead of a conventional air conditioner and a heated windscreen so that drivers use the HVAC system less.

The interior is unique to the iQ EV with a black and white color scheme like the exterior. It has partial leather seats and blue/grey fabric. The instruments include a charge indicator and a 3.5in TFT screen. The screen shows charge state, power consumption, range and other data. There is a simple start/stop button on the center console.