Toyota wants to use the Prius and other hybrids as steeping stone to a global EV shift. (Photo by ... [+]
Back in 1997, Toyota was the world’s first carmaker to introduce hybrid powerplants in mass-produced cars. The first-ever vehicle to be powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid was of course the ground-breaking Prius, and since then, Japan’s No 1 automaker has launched hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions of more than 80% of its sizable lineup while nearly every other manufacturer on the planet has followed suit and added hybrids to their ranges.
But where as Toyota was a pioneer in the electrified vehicles game, it has been slow to take up pure electric vehicle (EVs) technology. At this juncture, we should briefly mention that the term ‘electrification’ includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars and pure electric vehicles. While Toyota has invested heavily in the former three powertrains, it is working to delay the transition to EVs, still does not have a mass-produced EV, and is pushing Congress to slow down the shift to EVs.
In contrast to the vast majority of carmakers who have already launched EVs, like General Motors, Ford, Tesla, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Jaguar, Mini, Fiat, Mazda, Nissan, Honda and Kia, Toyota still does not have an EV in its lineup and is opposing stricter emissions limits and electric vehicle initiatives around the world, according to a report in the New York Times.
The NYT reports that a top Toyota executive recently met with congressional leaders behind closed doors to advocate against the Biden administration’s proposal to spend billions of dollars to accelerate the shift to EVs. Toyota Motor North America chief administration officer, Chris Reynolds, argued that hybrids, like the Prius, as well as fuel cell vehicles including the Mirai should also be in the mix.
Back in 2020, a number of carmakers signed a deal on tailpipe emissions with California, which had sought tougher regulations than the rest of the U.S. Under former President Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency had endeavored to strip California of its ability to set its own state emissions standards. However, under Biden, that rule was reversed, allowing California and other states to impose tougher standards.
Toyota came in for criticism recently after news spread that it was the largest corporate donor to Republican lawmakers who refused to certify President Biden’s election win. The firm at first, defended the donations but later agreed to stop them.
There is however, some merit in Toyota’s push back against EVs. The firm’s argument that hybrids and fuel-cell cars should be included in the conversation is a sound one. With it still expected to take at least a decade to create a sufficient EV charging infrastructure to support the large numbers of EV on the way in many countries, Toyota sees hybrids as a crucial stepping stone to societal acceptance and adoption of EVs.
Toyota believes that electric cars will proliferate and gain public acceptance over time as prices come down and infrastructure improves, but it sees issues with battery production capacity and the difficulty in sourcing sufficient materials needed to produce enough batteries for the growing number of EVs. Only recently, Toyota revealed plans to introduce 70 new models by 2025, including battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell and gasoline-electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids. But the makeup of that electrification menu will focus heavily on hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
In explaining its reasoning behind the firm’s slow take-up on electric cars, a company spokesman in 2019 mentioned that Toyota is able to produce enough batteries for 28,000 electric cars each year, or 1.5 million hybrid cars. One other important factor is emissions. Toyota says that selling 1.5 million hybrid cars reduces carbon emissions by a third more than selling 28,000 electric cars. So, put simply, its carbon footprint is smaller if it sells many more gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles.
