Toyota e-Palette to support 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo

Toyota has announced that it will supply up to 20 specially-designed 'Tokyo 2020 Version' e-Palette vehicles to support athlete mobility at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, where it will provide automated, loop-line transportation in the Olympic and Paralympic villages for athletes and related staff.

The battery-electric, automated vehicles have been adapted specifically for use during the Games, based in part on feedback from athletes about their mobility needs in the past Games.

First announced in 2018, the e-Palette is Toyota's first vehicle developed specifically for Autonomous Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) applications. It reflects Toyota's ongoing transition to a mobility company and combines electrification, connected networks, and advanced driving technologies to support new shared mobility businesses and business models.

The 'Tokyo 2020 Version' e-Palette has been adapted to meet the unique needs of the Olympic and Paralympic villages, and features large doors and electric ramps to allow groups of athletes, including Paralympians, to board quickly and easily. The vehicle will be controlled by a Society of Automotive Engineers Level Four automated driving system capable of operating at speeds up to 20km/h, supported by an on-board safety operator.

Deploying the e-Palette to support athlete and staff mobility is a key element of Toyota's program to provide advanced mobility solutions for Tokyo 2020 as the first worldwide mobility partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Toyota plans to leverage the knowledge gained from operating the e-Palette at Tokyo 2020 into the continued development of the vehicle and to support future MaaS applications.