Articles by Dom Tripolone

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Toyota is a big believer in hybrid tech, and its latest claim shames electric cars.Toyota Chairman, Akio Toyoda, recently spoke to US publication Automotive News and the interview has since been published on the company’s in-house outlet, the Toyota Times.Toyoda, whose predecessors started the company, explained the massive impact its hybrids have had on the environment.“We have sold some 27 million hybrids. Those hybrids have had the same impact as 9 million BEVs on the road,” said Toyoda.No car company has yet to sell 9 million electric cars, though Tesla and BYD are very close, which in theory means Toyota has done the most to cut emissions.Toyoda broke it down even further and said if Toyota had built 9 million EVs in Japan the environmental impact would have been much worse than the hybrids.“But if we were to have made 9 million BEVs in Japan, it would have actually increased the carbon emissions, not reduced them. That is because Japan relies on the thermal power plants for electricity.”This is because the production of batteries and electric car components that need rare earth metals are very energy intensive when mining, refining, shipping and the rest are taken into account. Even post production, where an EV is driven makes a huge difference to its emissions, with the energy mix of the country or whether charged with rooftop solar impacting its emissions.This all brings us back to Toyota multi-pathway approach, which is Toyota putting on an each way bet, or more accurately betting on every runner in the field.Toyota believes the best way to reduce emission is through a variety of technologies and not just battery electric vehicles.The company has been very vocal about that last point, that EVs alone aren’t the answer.“When the term carbon neutrality became popular, we said as a company the enemy is carbon. We have to focus on what we can do immediately to reduce carbon dioxide. That is the basis of our decision. It has not changed and will not change,” said Toyoda. “We should look at all options and work in all directions. As a company, we have been very consistent in saying what we’re fighting against is carbon dioxide.”There is no denying Toyota has been slow to join the electric car party.Hybrids are all the rage right now, but it currently sells just the bZ4X in Australia, which is a very slow seller and is outsold by machines from new brands such as the Geely EX5.Kia sold twice as many EV5 electric SUVs in May as Toyota has sold bZ4Xs this year alone. Kia has a more multi-pathway line-up with its range of hybrids, petrol-powered and electric vehicles.Toyota has promised more electric vehicles with the electric C-HR due next year and there is the promise of six models by 2026 including a ute and potentially a 4WD. There are also a range of for China-only EVs.If they’ll be strong sellers or also-rans is yet to be seen, but Toyota has given its rivals a mighty head start.

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