Some time ago, Toyota announced its launch of a new electric car in early 2020. This was the same time frame as its rivals. The announcement seemed to satisfy the people asking when Toyota would launch electric cars. This is a major shift for the Japanese manufacturer, which has traditionally been slow to adopt new trends in the auto industry. Over the past few years, almost every other major car brand announced a plan to release an EV by 2020. In many ways, Toyota’s announcement is not surprising. The company has been exploring an electric car launch for some time. In recent years there have also been growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and ever-tightening emission standards across markets like Europe and China. Moreover, with battery costs falling rapidly, now is a good time for all car manufacturers to move into electrification.
It’s no secret that Toyota is not a huge fan of electric cars. The company has repeatedly said it doesn’t think the technology makes sense for them now. It has also been reported that Toyota plans to phase out the production of gas-powered vehicles by 2050. However, there are signs that the company’s thinking on electric cars may change. In September 2018, Toyota launched its e-Rev venture with partners including Mazda, Suzuki, and their sub-operators, aiming to accelerate the development of smart technologies such as connected services, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomous driving. At the same time, they announced they would produce a range of new green cars from 2020 onwards. On this page, you will find everything we know about when Toyota will launch electric cars, whether hybrid or fully electric versions of existing models are coming sooner than we think, or whether the company has another plan entirely…
After several years of preparations, Toyota was expected to ramp up its electrification efforts in 2020–21. The company’s moves toward electrification will likely include the following. The first is new hybrid models. Toyota has already confirmed the next-generation Prius will switch to an all-wheel-drive layout and that it will offer both a plug-in hybrid model and a conventional hybrid. The second is new plug-in hybrid models. Toyota had announced that it would launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Corolla Hatchback in 2020. Another plan is to release more electric vehicles. Toyota had announced plans to bring a new electric vehicle to market in 2021. It has not revealed the model, but some have speculated it could be a compact crossover SUV similar to the C-HR. Finally, it is looking to invest more in electric vehicle batteries. Toyota is one of the leading companies involved in the Automotive Lithium Ion Battery consortium, a group of about 20 companies working to lower the cost of battery technology.
The brand launched the 2023 bZ4X this year. The car is a re-engineered version of the Toyota Prius. The first-generation Prius was the first modern hybrid car, and the current-generation Prius is the best-selling hybrid car in the world. The latest EV is a larger, sportier sedan with a range of about 310 miles. It uses a lithium-ion battery, but Toyota did not specify earlier which battery manufacturer it was planning to use. In the past, Toyota had not confirmed where the new car was going to be built. But it is most likely manufactured at the same factory that makes the current Prius. There are two key reasons why Toyota is re-using an existing model as the basis for its new EV: one, it allows the company to avoid significant capital expenditure (it avoids having to build a whole new factory); two, the Prius is probably the most reliable hybrid car on the market and has an excellent track record for service.
The manufacturer is looking to enter the segment of electric vehicles with this car. Its vibrant styling seeks to make it stand apart from the brand's other gas-driven sports utility vehicles. Unlike the previous electric vehicle given by the company, the 2023 Toyota BZ4X is sold at all its dealerships in the nation. As mentioned above, you can purchase an all-wheel or a front-wheel-drive and get nearly two hundred and fifty miles of driving range per charge. The car has joined an expanding group of electric sports utility vehicles not from any premium brands. But compared to the other cars in the group in terms of real-world highway range, it falls behind them. The 2023 Toyota BZ4X was developed alongside the Subaru Solterra. So, both cars are quite identical. But the latter comes standard with an all-wheel drive.
It took the brand a lot of years to bring out an electric car for the market. You may wish that the car was well worth the waiting period. But the reviews show that it is not the case. The car is quite comfy and has a lot of tech features. But the interior design, average performance, and below-average range do not help elevate this car in this segment. The styling of the car is pretty good. But it is not as vibrant as some of its rivals. The muted styling may suit the tastes of some people. The car also does not look much different than the other crossovers from the company. The car is quick when compared to the other gas-driven crossovers out there. But is slower to drive than the other electric vehicles. We think you should seek other cars to opt for an electric vehicle.
Toyota’s initial hesitation about jumping into the EV space has been attributed to the company’s core competency not being battery technology. In fact, it has been a leading manufacturer of gasoline-powered vehicles for decades. It also has strong ties to the oil industry. This, coupled with hybrids requiring a more complicated vehicle design, may have led to the company’s initial decision to stick with what it knew best. But all of this has changed over time. With China’s growing demand for clean energy, the falling cost of battery technology, and Europe’s tightening emission standards, there are many incentives for the company to go EV. Many fans have been asking when Toyota will launch electric cars.
Some may argue that the EV space is becoming increasingly competitive. And in a sense, this is true. More and more carmakers are moving into the EV market. But, in reality, Toyota has been dipping its toes into the EV space for quite some time now. Indeed, one of Toyota’s first hybrids (the Prius) was a plug-in hybrid. And earlier this decade, the company ventured into full-electric vehicles with the launch of the Toyota RAV4 EV. The RAV4 EV is a fully electric SUV and was a limited-run vehicle that the company sold in California. So, in many ways, Toyota has been exploring EV technology for a while now. Moreover, the company has also invested heavily in developing lithium-ion battery technology. So, despite encountering some initial hesitation, Toyota is now well-positioned to compete against other EV manufacturers.
Suppose Toyota did release a fully electric car in 2021. In that case, it might not be the last fully battery-powered model the company launches. In fact, some industry analysts think it will be 2022—or possibly even later—before Toyota releases its last gas-powered vehicle. Toyota has said it wants to produce all of its vehicles using only renewable energy by 2050, which means they all need to be electrified in some way. The company currently produces hybrid and electric vehicles but not fully-electric models. Suppose Toyota is serious about meeting its 2050 goal. In that case, it will need to ramp up its investment in battery technology and develop fully electric car models.
Conclusion
Toyota’s announcement about its entry into the EV market was not a surprise. The company has been exploring an electric car launch for some time, and there were a few reasons it decided to go electric. In fact, Toyota has been dipping its toes into the EV space for quite some time now. With China’s growing demand for clean energy, the falling cost of battery technology, and Europe’s tightening emission standards, the company is well-positioned to compete against other EV manufacturers. We hope now you know when Toyota will launch electric cars.
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