Toyota has completely turned to EV

Toyota unveiled “the BEVs to be released in near future” at a briefing session on the battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) held on December 14 2021 in Tokyo. The presentation was wonderful. In first, five small BEVs named bZ series were lined up, and President Toyoda himself explained the characteristics of each 5 models. It was just amazing thing itself. But real surprise was next. When the back curtains were removed, 11 more different models of BEVs appeared.

According to the “Fuel Economy Guide Book (2021 edition)” published by U.S. DOS and EPA, 53 models of BEVs are sold nationwide from 15 companies. Among them, Tesla and Porsche have the most models, but still only 14 and 12 models, respectively. Most other BEV makers sell only one or two models.

Meanwhile, Toyota unveiled 16 BEVs at once. And Toyota says that these BEVs will be put on the sales one by one in the next few years. In addition, Toyota will launch the 30 BEV model by 2030, aiming to sell 3.5 million units worldwide annually. Toyota’s BEV lineup is one of the largest in the world and sales volume also large. Toyota will completely turn to BEV and aim to climb up the top of the world at once.

Will Toyota withdraw from FCV?

On the other hand, Toyota has been developing fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). What will happen to this in the future? At this briefing session, Toyota said that it will continue to develop on vehicles other than BEVs (hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, FCVs) too and develop businesses to meet the energy situation and needs of the regions where vehicles are sold. ..However, the FCV seems to have completely faded by this presentation that suggest “Toyota doesn’t let you say that Toyota is behind in EV.” So will FCV development continue in the future?

As of the beginning of 2021, as far as I know, there were only three manufacturers in the world that sell FCVs to the public, Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. And since Honda has withdrawn from FCVs, currently, there are only 2 companies and 4 models are selling to the market.

BEVs have the disadvantages of long charging times and short distances that can be run on a single charge. On the other hand, FCVs have the same filling time and mileage as gasoline-powered vehicles. However, as I posted already, there is no future for passenger car type FCVs.

The biggest problem is that there are few hydrogen stations that supply hydrogen for FCVs. No matter how good the FCV is, without hydrogen its just a iron box. So unless this problem is resolved, the spread of FCV will not be possible.

And since the installation cost of hydrogen stations are several times higher than that of gas stations, there is almost no possibility that hydrogen stations will build up like as gas stations from now on. Perhaps FCVs will not be widespread except in the case of fixed-route buses and Long-distance trucks.

Toyota has called on hydrogen supply companies to install hydrogen stations, and Japanese government has also assisted them. Toyota will hesitate to drop the FCV flag, but I think it’s about time for the FCV to withdraw.

16 Dec. 2021