Toyota to Show First All-Electric Vehicles in US This Year

After years of resistance to all-electric vehicles, Toyota announced wednesday plans to launch its first all-electric consumer vehicles in the United States later this year.

In a statement, Toyota said the three new models will include two battery-electric vehicles (BEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The company – which as of 2020 was the world’s best-selling automaker – also touted the ecological impact of new vehicles, citing its belief that “the fastest way to reduce greenhouse gases in the transport sector is to offer drivers less carbon. choices that meet their needs. “

“We continue to be leaders in the electrification that began with our pioneering introduction of the Prius almost 25 years ago,” said Bob Carter, executive vice president of sales for Toyota North America, in the communicated. “Toyota’s new electrified product offerings will provide customers with several choices of powertrain that best meet their needs.”

While Toyota has long been one of the global pioneers of hybrid vehicles, especially for the Prius, which it made its debut in Japan in 1997, it has long resisted all-electric.

In Wednesday’s statement, the company defended its past decision to opt out of all-electric, saying its internal research initially found that total greenhouse gas emissions from all-electric and hybrid vehicles were “ roughly the same … pollutants created by power generation for the average U.S. power grid used to recharge batteries. “

But the company’s decision to finally go all-electric – along with General Motors’ recent announcement of plans to roll out 30 new global electric vehicles by 2025 – is a good sign. where the wind blows these days.