Toyota e-Palette set for market launch in Japan

Toyota is commercializing its automated multi-purpose vehicle e-Palette, first unveiled in 2018, in its home market. As an electric shuttle, it can accommodate up to 16 passengers plus the driver. However, the vehicle is also intended to serve as a “mobile business or service space.”

Toyota has been quiet about the e-Palette for a long time. The Japanese company first unveiled the all-electric multi-purpose concept vehicle in early 2018, then took seven and a half years to commercialise it. Now, The Toyota e-Palette can now be ordered in Japan from a starting price of 29 million yen (approximately €168,000).

At 4.95 meters long, it’s not significantly longer than a large car, but is designed to carry four seated and twelve standing passengers – not including the driver. Currently, the model still features a driving system that meets Level 2 automated driving specifications. Toyota plans to launch units with a Level 4 automated driving system in fiscal year 2027.

In terms of drivetrain, the vehicle, which measures 4.95 x 2.08 x 2.65 meters and weighs three tons, is equipped with a 150 kW asynchronous motor. The onboard battery has a capacity of 73 kWh. Toyota estimates the range at around 250 kilometers. The e-Palette can be charged with 90 kW DC or 6 kW AC. Charging time at a rapid charging station is expected to be around 40 minutes (up to 80% SoC). Using an AC device, the vehicle needs around 12 hours to fully charge the battery.

Toyota cites a low-floor architecture and wide sliding doors as additional features of the model. The vehicle can also supply electricity (V2L function) and can thus be used, for example, as an emergency power source. The Japanese company intends to market the e-Palette not only as an electric shuttle, but also as a convertible vehicle for various mobility services (“mobile warehouse, service area, store”).

According to Toyota, the model will definitely be on display soon around the Toyota Arena Tokyo and Toyota Woven City, where it will be used “for transportation services and as a mobile warehouse, among other things.” Furthermore, the manufacturer plans to use the model in collaboration with dealers, municipalities, and partners in specific regions to initiate automated driving demonstrations.

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This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition