The hybrid champ is late to the battery electric party.
Toyota used to be the global leader in electric-powered vehicles. The Japanese giant was the first to introduce hybrid cars. Toyota continues to make and sell hybrids. But, curiously, while other automakers have moved from hybrids into pure battery-electric vehicles (em>hybrids), Toyota has not taken the next step. The result is that Toyota finds itself in a new territory, trailing many brands in the pure-electric category.
This should change soon. Inside EVs shared our report on Toyota’s electric initiative in 2019. However, COVID-19 has changed the plans of almost every automaker. Toyota plans to launch two new electric cars this year and a plug-in hybrid for the US market. Although details about the models and unveiling dates have been revealed by the manufacturer, the word came through an official announcement.
Bob Carter, executive vice president of sales at Toyota Motor North America, stated that “We remain leaders in electrification that started with our pioneering introduction Prius almost 25 years ago.” “Toyota’s electrified product options will allow customers to choose the powertrain that suits them best,” said Bob Carter, executive vice president of sales for Toyota Motor North America.
Automotive News claims that at least one EV is an SUV. We don’t have any details. Lexus could also receive its first electric vehicle, although it is not clear if the Lexus division of Toyota is included in the three-vehicle plan. Toyota is developing an electric platform, e-TNGA, that can be used for a wide range of electric applications.
These new offerings will not be the first Toyota products of their kind. In the 1990s, Toyota offered a battery-electric RAV4 to Californians. Toyota offers the Mirai sedan exclusively for California. The Mirai, a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle equipped with an electric motor, is not powered by batteries. Although it has similar range and refuelling times to internal combustion engines cars, there is not yet a hydrogen infrastructure to support mass production.