A consortium led by Toyota Manufacturing UK, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor, is studying the possibility of creating a lightweight two-seater electric vehicle that uses solar power, digital features, and sustainable materials.
The study will focus on a small last-mile L6e-type vehicle, based on Toyota’s FT-Me micro-mobility concept introduced earlier this year. The L6 type is a four-wheeled vehicle, or quadricycle, with a top speed of 45 km/h.
One of the partners, Savcor, a Finnish technology company, will design, develop, and test a solar roof (called a vehicle-integrated photovoltaic or VIPV roof). This solar roof is expected to increase the driving range by about 20%, allowing most daily trips to be completed without plugging in to charge, Toyota Manufacturing UK said.
Another partner, UK-based ELM Mobility, which already makes a larger L7eCU-type vehicle with 4 m² of cargo space, will explore how parts can be shared between the two vehicle types. Sharing components could lower development costs and help both companies benefit from larger-scale production.
The project will also include digital connectivity features and the use of recycled, lightweight, and eco-friendly materials.
Toyota’s team in Derby, England, will lead the project, with support from researchers at the University of Derby. The university will study how people use micromobility vehicles and the potential for solar energy in this context.
The consortium has received £15 million ($20 million) in joint funding, according to the UK Department for Business and Trade. The money comes from the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) Collaborative Research and Development program, which supports zero-emission technologies and new mobility solutions.
A similar project, the European Giants consortium, is also developing vehicles with built-in solar roofs for L5, L6, and L7 class vehicles from several manufacturers. Last year, the French Croisière Verte team showed the potential of portable solar panels and small electric vehicles by traveling across Africa in a modified Citroen Ami.
