Toyota Motor Corporation has long argued that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are not the only answer to climate change. On Thursday, the company’s top scientist, Gill Pratt, reiterated this point, warning that focusing solely on BEVs could lead some drivers to hold onto polluting vehicles. Toyota has instead advocated for the use of gasoline-electric hybrids, such as its pioneering Prius, as a more realistic choice for some markets and drivers.
Pratt noted that BEVs could make a positive difference in reducing climate change in countries such as Norway, which has a lot of renewable infrastructure. However, in other parts of the world, where coal is still used to produce power, hybrids are better for CO2 emissions.
Toyota seeks to sell 1.5 million battery-powered cars by 2026 and introduce 10 new fully electric models. The company has also argued that reaching carbon neutrality will mean the use of hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles. Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s former chief executive and current chairman, has lobbied the Japanese government to make clear it supports hybrid vehicles as much as BEVs.
Toyota’s stance on climate change is clear: battery electric vehicles are just one option, and hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles must also be considered.