Toyota Announces Multipurpose Automatic Operation EV "e-Palette Concept" in which One Car Changes Uses for Movement, Logistics and Merchandising

At the "2018 International CES" held in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 9th to 12th, 2018, Toyota Motor will develop next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) exclusively for mobility services (MaaS) that can be used for various purposes such as movement, logistics, , "e-Palette ConceptIt was announced that we will exhibit.

Toyota Motor announces "e-Palette Concept" exclusive for mobility service at CES | CORPORATE | Toyota Global News Room
https://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/jp/corporate/20508200.html

The e-Palette Concept is a vehicle with a vast indoor space with a low floor · box design, and it can be used in various ways by installing in-vehicle equipment according to the application. There are various possible applications such as mobile stores, mobile offices, pizza shops, transportation vehicles, etc. In addition to this, ride sharing specifications and hotel specifications are exactly intended to be used indefinitely.


Toyota stated in the press release on the functions and services aimed at realizing with e-Palette Concept as follows.

The e-Palette Concept is a MaaS exclusive next-generation EV that makes use of electrified, connected, automatic driving technology. We aim to offer "new mobility" that supports people's lives by responding to various services such as movement, logistics, and goods sale. In the future, we aim to optimize services such as mutual use of one vehicle by multiple service providers and efficient and consistent transportation system by vehicles with multiple size variations. In addition, by setting interiors that meet the needs of service providers, e-Palette Concept will contribute to the creation of new mobility services, such as providing services during travel and changing to more meaningful travel times It is supposed to be.

Depending on the application, the vehicle is available in three sizes from 4 meters to meters in length. Concept model with total length 4800 mm × full width 2000 mm × total height 2250 mm will be displayed at CES 2018.


By using the equipment in the room as a unit type, it can be used for multiple purposes.


In the case of "e-commerce specification", it is also possible to display goods inside the car and try on as it is.


If there is a favorite item after trying on it, you can purchase it as it is with cashless settlement and take it home.


With "FABLAB specification", it is possible to carry out manufacturing by installing processing machines inside the car.



If it is "mobile hotel specification", it will be possible to move to the destination while sleeping in a relaxed bed.


Other, "restaurant specification" or ...


"Pizza shop specification" etc. By using a vehicle equipped with a pizza kiln, every place becomes a pizza shop and it will be possible to have freshly baked pizza delivered.


In addition, there are also "flea market specifications" that open the shop at the Flemer venue by turning around the house of people wanting to sell to the flea market by autonomous operation and installing the products.


And it is possible to correspond to the use of "logistics specification" which loads luggage in a large room and transports.


By supporting various specifications, it is possible to utilize one vehicle for various uses. When commuting in the morning, use it for "ride sharing" that carries people ......


When commuting is settled, it is characterized by being able to use "spin-off" such as using it as a shuttle bus at a hospital. .


Toyota signed alliances with major companies as initial partners to promote more practical vehicle specifications and to build a mobility service platform (MSPF) that realizes new mobility services utilizing the e-Palette Concept . As a mobility service partner, Amazon.com, Inc., Didi Chuxing, Pizza Hut, LLC, Uber Technologies, Inc., and Didi Chuxing, Mazda Corporation, Uber Technologies, Inc. as technical partners are participating about. Alliance partners plan to participate from the planning stage of the service, and plan to proceed with demonstration projects using experimental vehicles.

Among them, Toyota disclosed the "vehicle control interface" developed by the company to the automatic driving kit development company. The automatic driving kit development company can acquire the vehicle condition and vehicle control necessary for development from the API published on the MSPF and can automatically acquire the automatic operation kit developed such as automatic operation control software and cameras and sensors from the roof It can be mounted on the top etc. In addition to cyber security measures from the outside, the vehicle control interface also has a guardian function to check the safety of vehicle control command commands from the automatic operation kit based on certain rules. In addition, you can always update the software on the automatic operation kit to the latest state using the OTA (Over the Air) environment maintained on the MSPF.


Vehicle information is collected from the DCM (data communication module) installed in the vehicle and accumulated in the TBDC (TOYOTA Big Data Center) via the global communication platform. Based on the vehicle information, we provide vehicles in conjunction with various financing such as leasing, insurance, etc., advanced vehicle maintenance in cooperation with dealers, etc. At the MSPF, service providers such as vehicle condition and movement management are necessary It is possible to publish the API to be used for mobility service. Moreover, by providing a mobility service related to automatic driving such as automatic driving kit use and software maintenance update on the MSPF, the service provider can use safe mobility, automatically self-operating You can also choose a driving kit.


Toyota aims to demonstrate the system including this vehicle in the first half of the 2020's in various areas including the United States and in 2020 as a vehicle equipped with some functions in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games We are aiming to contribute to the success of the tournament.


Toyota's future mobility aims for e-Palette Concept can also be seen in the following movies.

Basic function explanation video - YouTube