Toyota Motor Corporation has commenced the sale of its e-Palette battery electric vehicle (BEV), designed to 'cater to a wide array of mobility services'.

The company plans to deploy the BEV in TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO, Japan, and its vicinity, along with the Toyota Woven City.

Toyota also intends to conduct automated driving trials in association with partners specialising in automation, dealerships, and municipalities in select areas.

The goal is to introduce vehicles outfitted with Level 4 automated driving systems to the market by the fiscal year 2027.

The e-Palette has a total weight of 2,950 kg and can accommodate up to 17 individuals, including seating, standing passengers, and the driver.

It can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h and is equipped with a 72.82 kWh main power battery.

The company said that the vehicle can operate as a shuttle bus during peak hours and transform into a store during the day, all while recharging.

Its interior can be customised to support a range of uses, such as a mobile entertainment hub with the installation of communication or audio equipment, offering live sports viewing or virtual tours.

The e-Palette features a low floor and wide sliding doors for entry and exit, and is also equipped with an electric ramp and height-adjustment functions, facilitating independent access for wheelchair users.

It is engineered to support automated driving by integrating an automated driving kit (ADK) compatible with Toyota's vehicle control interface (VCI).

This includes hardware and software for automated driving control, sensors such as cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and redundant systems for safety and reliability.

The vehicle also incorporates a “Steer-by-Wire System”, which minimises steering effort for the driver.

Digital signage inside and outside the vehicle can display customised information, and the e-Palette comes with a cabin monitoring system to ensure door operation safety.

Furthermore, the vehicle is said to offer both standard and quick charging capabilities and can supply power when stationary, making it a potential emergency power source during disasters.

Recently, Toyota Motor Europe announced plans to begin production of its first BEV in Europe at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic (TMMCZ) site.