I-Road to the future

One of the topics that I find very interesting to discuss is environment and green technologies, especially when it comes to cars. That’s why I was happy to have the opportunity to write about i-Road, a new futuristic green car concept introduced by Toyota.

Motor vehicles and especially cars are a big part of our everyday life. For many people (me included) it is nearly impossible to quit contributing to the pollution these vehicles produce. Even those of us who don’t have a car use buses, taxis, and motorcycles – sometimes it takes more than a pair of legs or a bicycle to get to your destination. Besides, some people simply love driving. Luckily the car industry is changing towards production of electric vehicles, giving us hope that exhaust pipes will one day be completely gone.

A great example of such a vehicle is i-Road, a green energy concept car presented by Toyota. A visual hybrid of a motorcycle, bicycle and an electrical car, i-Road is, basically, a great solution for moving around a city, without taking unnecessary space or polluting the atmosphere. I love how stylish and futuristic it looks, although it took me time to get used it. But this is what futuristic is about – a shift of our perception of how things should look like, what they should do and what their impact is on humanity and environment. I hope that thanks to electrical vehicles driving a car will not be always associated with pollution, and thanks to the smaller cars we will have less cluttering on the roads.

Reasons to love this car:

• It’s electrical – you can charge i-Road from the standard household power outlet.
• Parking is never a problem with this cutie – it’s so compact, almost the size of a motorcycle.
• i-Road has another sit on the back – a little tiny though – but just right for a kid.
• I love the shifting wheels concept! When this car takes a turn, it shifts the wheels in a way which, again, resembles a motorcycle.

I do find the name a bit tired – the “iSomething” concept is already losing its identity and freshness, and by the time a car based on i-Road concept hits the market, it will be passé. But a concept is what it is – a concept, so I’m sure Toyota will come up with a nicer name when the time is right.

While I was writing this article, I thought about bicycles that are a huge part of Dutch culture and the Dutch weather, which, sadly, does not like bike riders too much. Rain and wind visit this country more often than we would like. I wouldn’t mind to have a roof over my head when I step on a bike. I can totally imagine riding i-Road through the tiny streets of Amsterdam, while never have to worry about finding a parking spot or getting wet in the rain. What do you think?

You can read more about i-Road concept car on i-Road dedicated site.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Toyota. The opinions and text are all mine.