Toyota is famous for its hybrid cars, and does not believe in an electric car at any price. This is confirmed by a recent document sent by the Japanese manufacturer to its American dealers, in which we learn that Toyota plans to have its Sales of hybrid cars will increase in the near futuremore so than its EVs or plug-in hybrids.

This document, shared by the American site Jalopnik, is dated April 2023, just as the Japanese firm announced the launch of ten new 100% electric models by 2026. A rather controversial term, but one that does not turn back, is not open to doubt. in Toyota’s business strategy but.

Toyota: a diversified strategy

Indeed, Toyota does not want to abandon its thermal and hybrid cars: in this internal document, the company reports “committed to offering a full range of electrified vehicles to offer all our customers the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint”.

The Toyota Group has announced its desire to achieve carbon neutrality for its plants by 2035 and for all its products by 2050. For its part, the Lexus premium division is preparing to go 100% electric by 2035.

To confirm its point of view, the Japanese brand highlights three main obstacles which hinder the mass adoption of electric vehicles in the United States. First of all, shortage of raw materials : More than 300 new lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite mines will be needed to support the production of electric vehicles by 2035, and the mining industry will not be able to meet the high demand in that short time.

Toyota: many obstacles for an electric car

Toyota also covers shortcomings of the charging infrastructure : only 12% of public charging stations are fast, and to meet the government’s electric vehicle targets, at least 1.2 million public charging stations will be needed by 2030, in addition to 28 million stations at home, equivalent to introducing at least 400 new charging points in service for a day!

Finally, one of the main obstacles to the introduction of the electric car is, of course, its pricemuch more expensive than a thermal car, to which is added the cost of installing a charging station at home.

To meet this challenge, Toyota is covering it “Rule 1:6:90” : to produce one electric car, the equivalent of 6 plug-in hybrid cars, or 90 hybrid cars, would need to be used in raw materials. During their service life, they reduce carbon dioxide emissions 37 times more than an electric car.

Source: Jalopnik