Madhur Boloor, who oversees carbon neutral strategy for the Toyota Research Institute, revealed what may lie ahead for electric vehicles at the Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit.
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Even as battery electric vehicles become more popular, hybrid electric vehicles will continue to play a significant role in the fight against climate change.
That’s because both types of hybrid vehicles—those you plug in and those that only harness kinetic energy while you drive—require less battery material than battery electric vehicles, typically costing less as a result.
This cost advantage can take more gas-only vehicles off the road sooner, leading to an overall greater reduction of vehicle carbon emissions in the short term, according to Toyota.
“Given the higher costs, customer needs and the lack of a fully developed charging infrastructure, a battery EV may not work for everyone right now,” said Tim Bliss, a spokesman for Toyota Motor North America. “That’s why we are pursuing a multipathway approach to affordable electric vehicles.”
The same amount of battery resources can be used to produce enough battery material for …
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Advancing battery technology means next-gen batteries will cost less, while enabling future EVs to offer greater ranges and faster charging.
Toyota officials in October said the company is about five years away from commercializing solid-state batteries that are expected to at least double the range of future vehicles—compared to current EVs—and possibly even recharge them in less than 10 minutes. Because solid-state batteries can simply store more energy than batteries on the market today, their range is anticipated to rival what gas-only vehicles can cover with a full tank of gas.
In the meantime, Toyota plans to roll out other battery chemistries and technologies starting with an improved version of its current liquid electrolyte lithium-ion battery by 2026. This innovation is expected to reduce the cost of the battery by 20%.
Another Toyota battery in development will have a new bipolar structure and be based on lithium-ion phosphate. The battery has an anticipated cost savings of 40%, though charging may require the same amount of time as batteries available today.
The addition of new battery chemistries and technologies reflects Toyota’s belief that consumers will still want choices in EVs and will make vehicle purchases based on their lifestyles, selecting whatever factor matters most: cost, performance, range, vehicle size or charging time.
$7 Billion
from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is dedicated to helping U.S. battery makers secure critical minerals and components.
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Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric technology has proven to be ideal for larger vehicles that would otherwise need heavy and too-long-to-charge batteries to transition away from diesel fuel.
Battery weight is a factor because carriers want to haul as much payload as possible. They also want their drivers on the road as much as possible, which is why the hourlong charging time for battery electric trucks is problematic, Boloor said.
In December, Toyota will begin producing hydrogen fuel cell modules at its Kentucky plant for use in powertrain kits that will be installed on Class 8 heavy-duty trucks. The kits will eventually be integrated in select Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks.
Whether semis powered by lightweight hydrogen attain commercial success hinges on whether there are places to refuel. Toward that end, federal officials announced in October another $7 billion in funding for regional hubs that are expected to produce 3 million metric tons of hydrogen annually.
In Toyota’s view, the commercial sector holds the most promise for securing a hydrogen future. By offering set routes and providing stable demand for fuel at a volume, the commercial sector can encourage fuel providers to get involved more quickly.
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