News Forum - Toyota boss puts brakes on shift to EVs

[Thaiger]

The boss of Toyota Akio Toyoda is trying to put the brakes on the shift to electric vehicles. During a recent visit to Thailand, Toyoda warned that many insiders, a “silent majority,” are quietly wondering if it is a smart move for car makers to retool exclusively for electric cars. Toyoda said… “People involved in the auto industry are largely a silent majority. That silent majority is wondering whether EVs are really OK to have as a single option. But they think it’s the trend so they can’t speak out loudly.” Toyoda went on to say that the idea that […]

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[Soidog]

This is an interesting article except it leaves you asking some fundamental questions it should have answered. In the article it says: “Toyoda may be right. EVs could easily be a thing of the past by 2030.”

Replaced by what? The continuation of ICE powered vehicles? Does Toyoda (great name for the boss of Toyota by the way) think another technology will replace EV’s? Hydrogen for example? I don’t think EV’s will be a thing of the past, but the 2030 date most developed countries are announcing will slip by 10 years. It’s all a waste of time anyway. Most countries don’t and won’t care less about climate change. Another shot in the foot for Western countries. 

[Ramanathan.P]

EVs could look environmental friendly. But what about the waste that is generated from it, especially the older batteries. Just look at the windmills that are being scrapped in Germany after its lifespan. Nothing can be done to them. Cannot recycle. So it is now a big issue. Better to use fossil fuel vehicles as the impact is less when compared to the impact that will be caused by EV. May be the manufacturers have to look into a more robust fuel efficient technology, like travelling 50km with one liter of gasoline. 

[Soidog]

34 minutes ago, Ramanathan.P said:

May be the manufacturers have to look into a more robust fuel efficient technology, like travelling 50km with one liter of gasoline. 

Unfortunately there is a limit to the efficiency of the ICE due to the laws of Thermodynamics. Many modern ICE are already at or close to that limit. The strength to weight of the vehicle is also near optimum and so a modern vehicle is close to optimal efficiency. The biggest waste of fuel comes from stop starting and idling in traffic due to congestion along with poor driving. How many times do we see people on a straight road racing towards a red stop light in the distance for example? 

[palooka]

Maybe the future is a combination of both technologies, electric and petrol.  Only way I'd consider it.

There will be many problems with charging and availability of public chargers (problems already) and the limited distance they can travel on a full charge.  There are some super-efficient petrol engines out there that can do the job, yeah not a Ferrari performance, but hey, what is it all about? Going from point A to B.

[KaptainRob]

10 minutes ago, palooka said:

Maybe the future is a combination of both technologies, electric and petrol.  Only way I'd consider it.

Toyota have a proven track record with hybrids.

IMO, Governments will eventually legislate and tax 'gas guzzlers' out of existence and much like Singapore, car ownership and use for single pax, single use journeys will be economically unsustainable.

[Morten]

On 12/22/2022 at 5:08 PM, Ramanathan.P said:

Just look at the windmills that are being scrapped in Germany after its lifespan. Nothing can be done to them. Cannot recycle.

Slightly off-topic, but this sounded so outrageous, I had to look for the source that you forgot to include. Good news is that it's a urban myth, disproven even by usatoday:) a year ago.

First, you let your local European recycler do what they can: https://www.eurecum-gmbh.de/windenergieanlagen-recycling/

World Economic Forum on turning the 15% that cannot easily be recycled (blades) into bike sheds (Denmark, of course...), bridges (Ireland), house roofs (US), or new blades (Denmark, Norway): https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/recycle-bike-wind-turbine/

On 12/22/2022 at 5:08 PM, Ramanathan.P said:

Better to use fossil fuel vehicles as the impact is less when compared to the impact that will be caused by EV.

Sorry, now I see you were kidding. Boy, did I fall for it:) Happy New Year!!

[longwood50]

Could be he sees articles like this and knows at the very least the infrastructure to support EV's is still years away.