An increasing number of companies are relying on 3D printing as a means of allowing customers to customize their products. From iRobot to Hoover, GE to Canon, manufacturers are understanding this technology’s ability to let customers do the customization for them. The most recent company to test out such a platform is Toyota, which, in conjunction with the release of their ultra-compact i-Road EV, has launched the Open Road Project in Tokyo.
With individuals reluctant to give up the individual freedom of owning their own vehicle, over ride-sharing and mass transit, Toyota has been at work creating an eco-friendly, single-person vehicle and the latest iteration of the project is called the i-Road. The auto manufacturer describes the vehicle as “designed to explore the way we move. It can travel up to 50km on a single charge. Its intuitive Active Lean technology makes it enjoyably nimble. The i-ROAD is built to the highest safety standards.”
The i-Road is only in the pilot phase, as Toyota seeks to gauge the interest and potential for their single-person, electric cars, capable of charging on standard 100V electrical outlets. Giving 10 i-Road vehicles to 100 participants for one month each, the company will test out the project over the course of a year.
During this time, Toyota will be expanding on the idea of the personal vehicle by allowing customers to express themselves with their i-Roads. Drivers will have the chance to customize their vehicles using 3D printed body parts featuring personally chosen colors and surface designs. In addition to the superficial aspects of the car, the i-Road is meant to learn your preferences in restaurants, as well as connect to the best routes for public transportation, where you will ultimately park the vehicle, via a “Virtual Operator that you can chat with.”
Additionally, “the vehicle automatically selects the optimal lean angle when cornering. You can enjoy the unique sense of being one with the vehicle.” The company describes this feature further, saying, “Active Lean technology automatically raises and lowers the front wheels to balance the vehicle on sharp turns or uneven or sloped roads.” And, working with parking lot operators and commercial property owners in central Tokyo, Toyota will be looking into small, unused spaces where the i-Road can plug in and charge for the day.
This is just the beginning for Toyota’s overall vision for the future of urban transportation. As the company tests out various versions of this project, we may ultimately see the implementation of Toyota’s “smart transportation” technology, in which eco-friendly cars are connected with drivers and one another. And, while the individual car may learn the patterns of its driver, it is also aware of the patterns of the collective, navigating traffic conditions with ease and ultimately making the driving experience an enjoyable, sustainable one. To learn more, check out the i-Road here or, if you happen to be in Tokyo, apply to be one of the 100 lucky participants here.
