Toyota may have been successful with the Toyota Prius as the first mass-produced hybrid, but the company is also notorious for holding out on electric vehicle (EV) technology compared to its rivals. In a surprising turn of events, it’s now waving the white flag.
The Prius remains Toyota's most successful venture in alternative propulsion
A recent announcement by Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) reveals that the company will be launching three electric models in the U.S. this year, two of them are battery electric vehicles (BEV) and one plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
What prompted the company’s 180-degree turn? The worldwide push for a combustion engine ban by the middle of the century could be the biggest reason, as both Toyota’s domestic and international competitors are now racing to electrify their fleets.
That’s not to say that the carmaker never dabbled in electric mobility, as it released electric versions of its Toyota RAV4 crossover twice – one on the first generation and another on the fourth iteration, the latter powered by Tesla batteries.
However, much of Toyota’s efforts in alternative propulsion have been focused on hydrogen fuel cells, as evidenced by the Mirai.
Toyota released two generations of the RAV4 EV, the second one in partnership with Tesla
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With its latest announcement, Toyota is marching to a different drumbeat. By 2025, models made under the Toyota and Lexus badges worldwide will have an electrified option. A dedicated BEV platform is also in the works, called the e-TNGA, that will be flexible enough to accommodate every drive configuration.
All these are part of Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, said to be the company’s most ambitious environmental commitments to date.
It may not have a leg up yet on other automakers where EVs are concerned, but Toyota does enjoy a 40 percent share for alternative fuel vehicles in the U.S. This includes garnering 75 percent of the fuel cell market, with a combined 64 percent for both hybrids and plug-ins.
The carmaker aims to up the stakes in four years, with electrified models comprising 40 percent of new vehicle sales, increasing to more than 70 percent by 2030.
The carmaker has set some pretty ambitious goals for itself by 2050
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Although Toyota already secured its commitment to electrification with an agreement to purchase power from a future wind farm, it’s not counting out other propulsion options yet. According to Toyota Motor Corporation chief scientist and Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt, the strategy is to cover all the bases.
“At every price point and with multiple powertrains, we can put more people in cleaner automobiles across North America to have the greatest near-term impact on total carbon emissions,” he said.
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