Toyota and a 100% electric car, this is not a real mad love, and the Japanese manufacturer has never hidden its reluctance not to sell 100% electric cars, but only move towards a market that consists only of electric vehicles.

Toyota’s new CEO Koji Sato believes that hydrogen is also one way to achieve carbon neutrality. While almost all other automakers are focused exclusively on electric vehicles, Koji Sato believes that hydrogen will be the cornerstone of the future of the Japanese firm.

Don’t just focus on all-electric

In the columns of Automotive News, Koji Sato talked about what he plans to do when he takes over Toyota in about two weeks.

In particular, he expressed the importance of studying other solutions besides fully electric ones: “We want to make sure that hydrogen remains a viable option. We need a supply chain for production and transportation. If we do not see evolution at this level, we cannot expect an increase in energy consumption. »

Nonetheless, Koji Sato believes that 100% electric vehicles will play a crucial role in Toyota’s futureas well as hybrid and hydrogen cars: “We are making significant efforts in all areas. It is important to remain flexible to adapt products and energy to the different carbon neutral needs of different markets. »

Toyota is not ahead

The only hydrogen car Toyota currently offers is the Mirai, which has had mixed success so far. For example, in the United States, the Mirai is sold exclusively in California, as no other state has the necessary charging infrastructure. Its price also repels buyers, because in France, in addition to the supply problem, Mirai is exchanged for 72,250 euros.

In terms of electric cars, Toyota is hardly more advanced than the bZ4X at the moment, but its career is off to a rocky start, to say the least. In China, the brand just launched the bZ3, an electric sedan that rivals the Tesla Model 3, which should allow it to gain some valuable market share.