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Toyota has promised to deliver its first three electric cars to Australia by 2025, and install charging stations at each of its dealers by the end of this year, but has also confirmed its go-slow strategy on the transition to electric vehicles.
In a media release and briefing to auto journalists on Monday, Toyota also reportedly confirmed that its first EV offering in Australia, the bZ4X SUV, is likely to be delayed. The main focus of the biggest player in the Australian new car market remains its hybrid models.
“We … know it will take many years for the significant challenges facing EVs to be overcome, including battery-material shortages, less-than-adequate charging infrastructure and the ability to meet diverse customer requirements such as towing,” Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley said in a statement.
“That’s why it’s just too early – and too risky for the environment and for our customers – to put all our eggs in the electric-vehicle basket,” Hanley said.
Toyota’s position contrasts sharply with the likes of Volvo, which has vowed to sell electric only cars in Australia by 2025, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that its parent company is facing ructions, with a new CEO and unanswered questions about its future.
The statement is also significant because Toyota is the dominant player in Australia’s car market, has been accused of working to stop and slow down policies and vehicle emissions standards which could help Australia catch up with the rest of the world on the uptake of EVs.
The statement also seems to ignore the surging growth in EV market share globally, where full battery electrics now make up 26 per cent of all new car sales in Europe in December, 22.3 per cent in China and 7.8 per cent in the US.
Hanley said that, by 2030, Toyota globally plans to release 30 new EVs and lift EV sales to 3.5 million a year, investing 8 trillion yen (A$87 billion) in the shift to zero-carbon vehicles over that period.
It’s unclear what percentage of the $A87 billion will be invested into fully electric vehicles and how much is likely to be further sunk into its hydrogen vehicle program, which has produced negligible sales.
Dealers to invest $20 million in charging
Toyota also announced that its 232 dealers in Australia would collectively invest $20 million into a dealership charging network which would be completed before the arrival of the bZ4X.
The chargers would only be available for Toyota’s customers and it would be up to each dealer whether they could be accessed outside of business hours.
The charging stations would be a mix of AC and fast-charging DC outlets, but no further details were released.
More than half Toyota’s sales to be “electrified” by 2025
The company also claims that more than 50% of its Australian sales will be “electrified” by 2025.
By electrified, Toyota is referring to its hybrid models which are in internal combustion engine petrol burning cars that include a parallel electric drive system. They made up 30.5% of Toyota’s 231,050 sales in Australia in 2022.
“Hybrids enable us to utilise precious battery cells where they do the most good for the environment – and do it today,” Hanley told media on Monday.
“Hybrids are also more affordable, easier to recycle, and don’t require charging infrastructure. They’re cars for the masses, not for the few.”
Ironically, while Toyota says it will introduce hybrid versions of its Toyota Hilux, specialist conversion companies such as SEA Electric have taken matters into their own hands and are now offering electric conversion of the popular utes and Landcruisers for fleet owners and individuals.
Toyota has trailed the world in the shift to EVs, and sold less than 20,000 fully electric vehicles globally last year, just 0.2% of its total production. None of these BEVs made it to Australia.
According to Drive, Toyota said firsts deliveries of the bZ4x electric cars to Australia have now been delayed until the second half of 2023, and it is yet to release pricing details. “Battery-electric cars are expensive, don’t kid yourself,” Hanley told Drive.
The Driven has sought more details about Toyota Australia’s EV plans, which models it intends to roll out in Australia and more details about the proposed EV charging stations. It has yet to receive a response to its phone calls and emails, and was not invited to the media briefing on Monday.
See: Toyota faces disaster unless new CEO performs miracle pivot to electric vehicles
Daniel Bleakley is a clean technology researcher and advocate with a background in engineering and business. He has a strong interest in electric vehicles, renewable energy, manufacturing and public policy.
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