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Toyota debuts the FT-EV II electric concept at 2010 NAIAS

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The Toyota FT-EV II was on display at the 2010 NAIAS in Detroit.

by Jason Rzucidlo americajr@americajr.com

WATCH: Interview with Product Specialist Kristyn Burtt regarding the Toyota FT-EV II

DETROIT -- The Toyota FT-EV II is a new electric concept vehicle that was on display at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. It is great for anyone who drives less than 50 miles per day. The automaker hopes to have a battery electric vehicle on the road by 2012.

“The FT-EV II cause its actually our second one that we’ve done,” said Kristyn Burtt, a Toyota product specialist. “The FT-EV debuted last year. It’s just a concept car right now. This is all electric, it has a lithium ion battery.”

Toyota is currently using nickel metal hydride in its hot-selling Prius hybrid vehicle.

“The lithium ion battery allows it to go about 50 miles per charge and speeds of up to 65 mph,” Burtt added. “A great commuter car for urban areas. It would be an all-electric motor. It wouldn’t be what we’re used to with a gas engine.”

An electric motor and lithium ion batteries provides power to the Toyota FT-EV II. It can charge on a 220-volt outlet in about an hour and a half. It will take about three hours to charge on a 110-volt outlet.

“This would be a great vehicle for an urban area, not if you live out in the country or anything else like that,” the product specialist said. “For areas like New York City or maybe San Francisco, where you are doing small commutes, it’s easy to plug in and that would be something because you’re doing shorter distances.”

A target price has not been set for the FT-EV II at this time. Burtt said a very similar vehicle with some of the same design cues will be released in 2012.

“What we do is we love to hear consumer feedback,” she added. “People love to give us feedback at Toyota.com. We take comments here at the show. The more feedback we hear, the more we know consumers like certain things about a particular concept.”

For more information, visit www.toyota.com/concept-vehicles/ftev.html

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

This is a prototype electric vehicle that will probably not go into production. However, some of the design features may be used in future Toyota models.

 

PHOTO BY MICHELE K. / ©AMERICAJR.com

A look at the front of the Toyota FT-EV II electric concept.

 

This page was last updated on Mon, January 25, 2010 4:12 PM

 

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