Photo: Toyota
Convincing people about the potential of electric cars is one tough job to perform, no doubt, especially in areas where people are inclined to live abiding by the good old' traditional customs. In car language, vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.
So, are electric vehicles a future for mobility? Toyota certainly thinks so, and that's why they conducted a customer focus group campaign in Texas, a state where EVs and PHEVs were not received as well as in California, for example.
This weekend, 65 participants spent time taking the i-Road three-wheeled electric vehicle and the COMS 'super-compact' electric vehicles through their paces in North Texas.
In addition, the drivers had the opportunity of answering questions about their driving preferences and imagine how ultra-compact electric vehicles could be used in their daily lives while providing product feedback to Toyota researchers in the process.
"As we look for ways to ease congestion in major hubs like the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, we are exploring how these types of electric vehicles may fit into the transportation landscape,” said Jim Lentz, chief executive officer, Toyota North America. “We’re excited to show Texans where these advanced technologies could take us.”
This is not the first time Toyota unleashed a fleet of i-Roads. In fact, the i-Road has been part of a global set of car-sharing demonstration programs, reaching cities like Grenoble, in France and Toyota City, in Japan. Also, i-Roads in Toyota City, Japan, will be loaned to individual drivers starting next month.
No word on such initiatives in the United States for now, but Toyota claims if these focus groups offer positive feedback, you may see i-Roads on a road near you in the future.
This weekend, 65 participants spent time taking the i-Road three-wheeled electric vehicle and the COMS 'super-compact' electric vehicles through their paces in North Texas.
In addition, the drivers had the opportunity of answering questions about their driving preferences and imagine how ultra-compact electric vehicles could be used in their daily lives while providing product feedback to Toyota researchers in the process.
"As we look for ways to ease congestion in major hubs like the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, we are exploring how these types of electric vehicles may fit into the transportation landscape,” said Jim Lentz, chief executive officer, Toyota North America. “We’re excited to show Texans where these advanced technologies could take us.”
This is not the first time Toyota unleashed a fleet of i-Roads. In fact, the i-Road has been part of a global set of car-sharing demonstration programs, reaching cities like Grenoble, in France and Toyota City, in Japan. Also, i-Roads in Toyota City, Japan, will be loaned to individual drivers starting next month.
No word on such initiatives in the United States for now, but Toyota claims if these focus groups offer positive feedback, you may see i-Roads on a road near you in the future.
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