EVs

What can we expect from a platform that calls itself "oil price" and from a car company that has completely overslept the entry into e-mobility?

E-mobility may not be able to save the environment on its own. But it is an important building block on the way to a society based on renewable resources. 

Not so much "overslept", but a calculated decision. 

Toyota have made a choice, just as other manufacturers have and customers do. Time will tell who judged best and whether some jumped too quickly. 

I recommend listening to this recent item on the BBC world service which examines EV's and the amongst other topics,Toyotas approach to EV strategy. I don't believe that Toyota are against EV's, more they have a realistic approach to the challenges facing their world-wide roll out. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4wdz

Rgds,

Aitch.

Just one point on this. There is much discussion on whether the infrastructure is available for ev's. I have owned one now for 18 months and haven't has a problem. That includes a 2500 mile trip to the UK and back last year. The infrastructure isn't quite there yet but definitely improving with 24,700 recorded in Spain January 24.

Just wondering what the infrastructure is for hydrogen in Spain?  A quick check online shows 6 but not for public use and a total of 100 planned by 2030. There is 1 planned in Alicante sometime this year.

Hi SW,

        I have several friends in the UK who now drive EV's and as a rule they never have charging issues as most charging is done at home. Long distance journeys are more of a challenge but availaibility of chargers is improving (though some are costly to use). 

 If you listen to the BBC item Toyota are not saying EV's are the issue but rather the charging infrastructure is not there yet for greater numbers of vehicles. Toyota have developed the first mass production capability for solid state lithium batteries, which when it comes production (2028?) will take away distance and charging time worries, with distances up to 1,200km between charges and recharge times of 10 minutes. 

 What is being pointed out is that the amount of lithium available is limited globally and the refining capacity to turn the mined lithium into battery grade material is limited. It will be a surpise to no-one that China is buying up lithium mines and that they also have the most refining capability, not an ideal situation. It is not possible to replace all current ICE vehicles with EV's with the existing lithium output, I suspect that is what the Toyota head was saying, not that they do not want to convert all vehicles to EV.

 I don't know much about hydrogen though I did read that it has greater capacity potential than lithium, but as you point out, not many places where you can get it and even less cars that use it.

Hybrids will be around for many years I suspect, in parallel with EV's unless another as yet unknown energy source comes along.

Rgds,

Aitch.