Toyota will supply up to 20 specially-designed e-Palette autonomous shuttles to support athlete mobility at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The battery-electric automated vehicle has been adapted specifically for use during the Games based in part on feedback from athletes about their mobility needs in previous Games.
During Tokyo 2020, the e-Palette will provide automated, loop-line transportation in the Olympic and Paralympic villages for athletes and related staff.
It features large doors and electric ramps to allow groups of athletes, including Paralympians, to board quickly and easily.
What’s more, the vehicle will be controlled by an automated driving system capable of operating up to 20km/h (12.5mph) at SAE level 4, supported by an on-board safety operator.
Takahiro Muta, development leader for the Tokyo 2020 e-Palette, said: “Throughout the development process, athletes, especially Paralympians, helped us to better understand how we could adapt and upgrade the e-Palette to better meet the need for simple, convenient and comfortable mobility.”
First announced in 2018, e-Palette is Toyota’s first vehicle developed specifically for autonomous Mobility-as-a-Service applications. It combines electrification, connected networks, and advanced driving technologies to support new shared mobility businesses and business models.
Toyota says it plans to leverage the knowledge gained from operating e-Palette at Tokyo 2020 to continue developing the vehicle to support future Mobility-as-a-Service applications.
The e-Palette will be officially unveiled at Toyota’s booth during the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show held in Japan from October 23 to November 4.
