Toyota's self-charging concept EV could help you tackle the daily commute on solar power alone
The FT-Me is a tiny Citroen Ami rival with a very special roof
· TechRadarNews By Leon Poultney published 13 March 2025
(Image credit: Toyota)
- Toyota's intriguing concept car measures just 8ft in length
- In some countries, those as young as 14 will be able to drive it
- Its solar roof generates around 20 miles of range per day
Toyota unveiled a selection of new models at an exclusive event in Brussels this week, covering everything from motorsport-inspired road cars to battery-powered SUVs. But look a little harder and you’ll spy the diminutive silhouette of the FT-Me micro mobility concept.
Measuring just 2.5m in length (around 8ft), it is marginally larger than the Citroen Ami, which has taken Europe by storm thanks to the low-cost, small footprint motoring that it offers for those living in busy urban areas.
Thanks to its tiny size, Toyota’s concept only occupies half a standard parking space and, in some cases, it can park “nose in” to the curb, taking up the same sort of space as a couple of motorcycles.
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According to the Japanese marque, the styling is inspired by a jet helmet and the interior has been packaged for maximum space. There’s room in there for two adults, but it can also swallow a wheelchair, with wheels removed, and longer pieces of flat pack furniture thanks to a folding passenger seat.
Perhaps more interesting is the solar panel roof, which Toyota says can add 20 to 30km (13 to 18 miles) of driving range per day, even in cloudy urban settings. This is enough to cover most common commutes, without the need to plug it in.
There is no technical specification on official range or battery size, but the fact its maker claims it can be driven by 14-year-olds in some markets suggest it would fall under the quadricycle category, which means it will be limited to 28mph, offer less than 6kW of power and weigh less than 450kg.
A youthful movement
Lacking any sort of flashy infotainment displays, the FT-Me is designed for the smartphone generation, seamlessly linking up with mobile devices and smartphone apps, which can also act as a digital key.
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