Toyota commits 20 e-Palette vehicles for use in Tokyo Games

TOYOTA Motor Corp. announced it will supply up to 20 specially designed “Tokyo 2020 Version” e-Palette vehicles to support athletes’ transportation requirements at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. The company said it will provide automated, loop-line transportation in the Olympic and Paralympic villages for athletes and related staff.

Toyota noted the battery-electric, automated vehicles have been adapted specifically for use during the Games.

“Olympic and Paralympic athletes work tirelessly to achieve the impossible, and we wanted to provide them with a vehicle specifically designed and calibrated to fit their mobility needs during Tokyo 2020,” said Takahiro Muta, development leader for the Tokyo 2020 Version e-Palette. “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, the e-Palette is Toyota’s first vehicle developed specifically for autonomous mobility. It reflects Toyota’s transition into a mobility company and combines electrification, connected networks and advanced driving technologies to support new shared mobility businesses and business models.

Toyota said the Tokyo 2020 Version e-Palette has been adapted to meet the unique needs of the Olympic and Paralympic villages, featuring large doors and electric ramps to allow groups of athletes, including Paralympians, to board quickly and easily. The vehicle will be controlled by an automated driving system capable of operating up to 20km/h by an on-board safety operator.