Toyota rises to Olympic AV mobility challenge

With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics fast approaching, Toyota is adapting 20 of its e-Palette autonomous shuttles to move contestants around the athletes’ village. Adoption of the automated electric vehicles has been based in part on feedback from athletes from past games about their mobility needs. The 5.2m long e-Palette shuttles feature large doors, a low floor and electric ramps to allow up to 20 Olympians or four wheelchair Paralympians (plus additional standing passengers), to board quickly and easily.
October 24, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Direct from ITS World Congress 2019

With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics fast approaching, 1686 Toyota is adapting 20 of its e-Palette autonomous shuttles to move contestants around the athletes’ village.

Adoption of the automated electric vehicles has been based in part on feedback from athletes from past games about their mobility needs.

The 5.2m long e-Palette shuttles feature large doors, a low floor and electric ramps to allow up to 20 Olympians or four wheelchair Paralympians (plus additional standing passengers), to board quickly and easily.

The SAE level 4 vehicle is capable of operating at up to 20kmh and will be supported by an on-board safety operator.

Deploying the e-Palette for athlete and staff mobility is a key element of Toyota’s program to provide advanced mobility solutions for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics; the knowledge gained will be fed back into developing the vehicle to support future MaasS applications.


Designed with front/rear symmetry, wheels at the corners and a cube shape, Toyota’s e-Palette provides an expansive interior space.

In line with the company’s “Mobility for All” commitment, it is fitted with handrails and seats that are easy to use regardless of height, while the floor, trim, seats and other components have contrasting colours that assist people with colour-blindness.

The shuttle is the first developed specifically by the company for autonomous mobility as a service (“Autono-MaaS”) applications, reflecting Toyota’s transition to a mobility company combining electrification, connectivity and advanced driving technologies to support new shared mobility business models.

In common with the athletes they will carry, what will happen to the shuttles once the Olympics are over will be decided after the closing ceremony.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • After two decades of research, ITS is getting into its stride
    June 4, 2015
    Colin Sowman gets the global view on how ITS has shaped the way we travel today and what will shape the way we travel tomorrow. Over the past two decades the scope and spread of intelligent transport systems has grown and diversified to encompass all modes of travel while at the same time integrating and consolidating. Two decades ago the idea of detecting cyclists or pedestrians may have been considered impossible and why would you want to do that anyway? Today cyclists can account for a significant propor
    Read More
  • Vision technology: the future in focus
    November 23, 2018
    Just a few years ago, terms such as ‘embedded’ and ‘polarisation’ were buzzwords. But now they are real and present examples of vision technology in action – and, Adam Hill finds, the ITS industry is waking up to a number of possible applications Every aspect of the intelligent transportation systems industry moves quickly – but developments in camera technology change with a rapidity which can appear quite bewildering. And with ITS providers constantly searching for an edge against fierce competitio
    Read More
  • London EV demand ‘rising’ since ULEZ intro, says Carwow
    June 19, 2019
    Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has increased 123% in London since the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), says Carwow. Using data from its website, the car-buying platform found that searches for EVs also increased 56% in the rest of the UK Enquiries for alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) increased 77% in the UK capital and 44% in the rest of the country. Carwow says there has been a 56% year on year increase in searches for hybrid vehicles since May 2018, with a further 92% incre
    Read More
  • Cisco’s 5 steps to cyber-resilient roadways
    September 12, 2024
    As the ITS world becomes ever more connected, cybersecurity risks are increasing. Cisco experts Pete Kavanagh and Angela Murphy explain how to overcome key challenges
    Read More

Highlighted Content