Toyota’s hybrid boat will begin testing in the Port of Tokyo in 2018

By Albert Khoury Published April 2, 2017

Toyota has developed the first leisure craft in Japan powered by a parallel hybrid system. The hybrid boats will be studied in Tokyo’s waterways from July 2018 to March 2021. It should come as no surprise that the carmaker is experimenting with new hybrid vehicles, as its Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid electric car.

Toyota is lending its hybrid boat, the Ponam-28V, to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government at no charge. According to the press release from Toyota, the government will use the boat to assist in routine maintenance of piers and other port facilities at the Port of Tokyo. In addition, the Ponam-28V will be used for special visits to Tokyo Bay during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, wherein many of the competition venues will be located along the waterfront.

Recommended Videos

More: Lexus floats a new brand idea, the high-performance Lexus Sports Yacht

Toyota’s new vessel will also serve as a platform for canal tours at the Port of Tokyo for both residents and visitors alike.

With the combination of an electric motor and internal combustion engine, the Ponam-28V’s parallel hybrid system promises a comfortable cruising range. In EV mode, the boat gains greater efficiency, fewer emissions, and low noise levels.

The Tokyo government will send feedback of the boat’s performance to Toyota for analysis. This data can be used to improve the current hybrid system as well as aid in the progress towards future models and systems.

More: New Toyota Mirai billboards in California help clear the air

The Ponam-28V has sibling vessels in the form of the Ponam-31 and Ponam-35. The numbers in each model name indicate their respective lengths: 28, 31, and 35 feet. The Ponam-28V features a 3-liter gas engine paired with a 36 kW electric motor. The latter is powered by an 11 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery pack. The internal combustion engine puts out about 260 horsepower, while the electric motor provides about 50 horsepower. Maximum torque measures close to 260 pound-feet.

Former Weekend Editor

Al started his career at a downtown Manhattan publisher, and has since worked with digital and print publications. He's…

Topics

Cars

Modern cars love to collect data. Their companion apps appear to be even worse

Think your connected car tracks too much? Take a look at its phone app

Transportation, Vehicle, Car

We've known for years that modern cars aren't particularly shy about collecting data. It turns out the little app you install alongside one is apparently another cause for concern. Researchers at Northeastern University (via Vucense), working with Consumer Reports, tested 21 late-model vehicles from 19 brands and 30 manufacturer companion apps to see where their network traffic went. Nineteen of the 21 cars contacted at least one third party over Wi-Fi, while 11 reached domains classified as advertising, tracking, or analytics services.

For most of the vehicles tested, adding the manufacturer's companion app at least doubled the number of advertising, tracking, and analytics companies contacted. Seventy percent of the apps reached more than five such domains, compared with 29% of the cars.

Cars

Citroën promised us a cheap electric 2CV. The charming concept is finally here, with egg holders and turtle pedals

Citroën’s electric 2CV concept is smaller, lighter, and costs just 15,000 Euros

Citroen 2CV Concept Featured

A few months ago, Citroën told us one of France's most recognizable cars was coming back as a cheap EV. Now we finally know what that actually means. The Citroën 2CV Concept has made its debut at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, previewing the production model Citroën intends to put on European roads by 2028.

Just as promised, it is a fully electric car that is built to be simple and small enough to slot between the tiny Ami and C3 in Citroën's lineup. And sticking true to its legacy, it keeps some of that unique strangeness of the original 2CV.

Cars

Your next ‘cheap’ new EV isn’t coming – unless you buy used

Representative image of EVs charging

The global electric-car market is in a weird pricing flux. In Britain, Hyundai has opened orders for the Ioniq 3, a compact electric hatchback that starts at £22,245, or £18,495 after the country's £3,750 Electric Car Grant. The 61kWh version can travel up to 308 miles (WLTP range), while higher-end trims add features such as Matrix LED headlights and Hyundai's new Pleos Connect infotainment system, based on Android Automotive OS.

Cross the Atlantic, however, and that particular proposition disappears. Hyundai has no current plans to bring the Ioniq 3 to the U.S. Meanwhile, Cox Automotive put the average U.S. new-EV transaction price at $54,754 in August 2026. The gap is not simply about one car. It highlights a broader problem: while other markets are producing increasingly affordable electric cars, the U.S. still has remarkably few mainstream EVs around the 20,000-25,000 mark.