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The Olympic Games are not just about excellence in sports.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics brought the world together and have provided Japan a stage to show off sustainable, technological automotive innovations.
Toyota, the first-ever Worldwide Mobility Partner for the Games, is "committed to mobility as a source of inspiration and as a way to improve the quality of life for all," according to the Olympics.
Here are the medal-worthy vehicles of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Electric, accessible transportation for all
Toyota’s electric, accessible fleet at the Tokyo 2020 is deserving of a medal.
Toyota is using the Olympics to give the world a peek into the future of public transportation with electric vehicles (EVs) designed to be more accessible.
One notable automated EV is the Toyota e-Palette, a truck-sized vehicle—resembling a train car or bus—that can transfer about 20 passengers per ride. Additionally, its automated ramp and spacious design make the e-Palette accessible for wheelchairs, giving it potential in public transportation.
Another wheelchair-friendly EV on display is the Accessible People Mover (APM). At the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the APM takes athletes from venue to venue.
Robots assist Olympic athletes and visitors
At the Olympics, Toyota proved it's more than just a car manufacturer with its emerging technologies extending far beyond the road. Toyota introduced robots to the world during the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The Human Support Robot (HSR) is equipped with a single-arm system for lifting and carrying objects, and the robot responds to voice commands in English, Mandarin and Japanese. Over 10 HSRs were conscripted to the Olympic stadium to assist visitors at the Olympics and Paralympics Games where they also delivered food and beverages to guests.
Toyota hopes that, in the future, the fully automated HSR will be a household robot assisting those with disabilities and helping them gain independence.
Toyota also built cute robot replicas of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Miraitowa and Someity, respectively. These 3-feet tall blue and pink friendly droids interact with guests by making "eye" contact and shaking their hands.
Zero-emission driving with the Toyota Mirai
Toyota’s stylish mid-sized Mirai (at the intersection of sporty and luxury) is fit for an Olympian. And the entire Olympic Village.
"The Toyota Mirai is the official vehicle of the 2020 Games," says Maki Kobayashi, Director of Communications and Engagement at the Bureau for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Toyota designed the zero-emission sedan "with the goal of reducing environmental impact" in mind for both Games, Kobayahsi says.
Because the Olympics require a massive staff to ensure that every event runs smoothly, Toyota has supplied Mirais to convey staff around the Village. Over 500 of them have been deployed to the Olympics.
Apart from the Mirai’s aerodynamic stance and premium rear-wheel-drive platform, there’s one clear reason the vehicle deserves a place on the podium: hydrogen fuel.
The Mirai is one of the first-available hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles, which means that the car is powered by carbon-neutral compressed hydrogen. While electric-car batteries might charge for hours, hydrogen vehicles can be refueled in as little as five minutes.
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