Toyota EV-30

The Toyota EV-30 was a two-seat electric concept car powered by zinc-bromine batteries and first unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1987.

Designed as a compact personal vehicle, it explored alternative approaches to urban and low-speed mobility at a time when electric cars were still largely experimental.

Its lightweight resin body was shown in both open and closed cockpit versions, neither of which featured conventional doors.

The design was highly unconventional: the front bumper swept upward and backward into the cabin to become the dashboard, while the rear bumper angled forward and downward, flowing into the interior as side armrests.

This integrated approach to body and cabin construction helped keep weight low and reflected the EV-30’s intended role as a low-speed vehicle suitable for enclosed or semi-public spaces such as shopping malls, hospitals, and similar facilities.

Power came from 106-volt zinc-bromide batteries feeding an AC induction motor producing 5.5 kW at 2200 rpm. The EV-30 could reach a top speed of about 43 km/h, and when driven at a steady 30 km/h it offered a claimed range of up to 165 km.

Charging was possible from a standard Japanese 100-volt household outlet, emphasizing convenience over outright performance.

Measuring just 2100 mm in length, 1320 mm in width, and 1140 mm in height in open form, or 1525 mm with the closed cockpit, the EV-30 was extremely compact.

Although it never progressed beyond the concept stage, it remains an intriguing example of Toyota’s early experimentation with electric propulsion and ultra-light urban vehicles.