Toyota reveals all-electric plans 19 | 12 | 2017

    TOYOTA HAS CONFIRMED it plans to introduce 10 new all-electric vehicles globally by the early 2020s. The move forms part of a new global strategy which will see every model in the Toyota and Lexus line-up electrified in some way by ‘around 2025’. (Related: Toyota and Mazda form EV alliance)

    The programme will first see dedicated all-electric, hybrid and fuel cell models appear. These will sit alongside core Toyota and Lexus line-ups which will include pure electric or ultra-low emission powertrains offered on every model.

    As a result of the implementation of this plan, Toyota plans to sell more than 5.5 million electrified vehicles worldwide by around 2030. Sales of zero-emission vehicles will total more than one million.

    Toyota’s decision to target such  significant growth in all-electric vehicles in less than 10 years is a major shift in policy and approach. The company has long focused on hybrid technology, with cars like the Prius (pictured). Up until now, an all-electric car has never been part of the firm’s line-up.

    Toyota-Prius-1-copy.jpg

    These new all-electric cars will first be launched into the Chinese market, before being phased into Japan, India, United States and Europe.

    In addition to the al-electric models, Toyota’s fuel-cell electric vehicle line-up will be expanded in the 2020s. This will apply to new passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

    Toyota’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid line-up will also grow, thanks to the further development of the Toyota Hybrid System II (featured in the current-generation Prius and other models). There will also be an introduction of a more powerful version in some models, plus the development of simpler hybrid systems in select model.

    Toyota-Prius-2.jpg

    Batteries are a core technology of electrified vehicles and generally present limitations relating to energy density, weight/packaging, and cost. Toyota has been actively developing next-generation solid-state batteries and aims to commercialise the technology by the early 2020s.

    In addition, Toyota and Panasonic will start a feasibility study on a joint automotive prismatic battery business in order to achieve the best automotive prismatic battery in the industry and to ultimately contribute to the popularisation of Toyota’s and other automakers’ electrified vehicles.

    Related: Toyota boosts Scots hydrogen hub

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    Jim McGill

     

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