While Toyota has been criticized by some as being slow and reluctant to embrace battery-electric vehicles, the company has just answered its critics at an event in Belgium, previewing a series of dedicated BEV models it will introduce in Europe by 2026.
The global automotive juggernaut is adopting a multipath approach to carbon neutrality that will include hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen combustion engines, and e-fuels, depending on market demand and customer needs. In Europe, it will establish a range of six BEVs by 2026, starting with the pre-existing bZ4X.
Joining the bZ4X that Toyota co-developed with Subaru will be a production version of the bZ Compact SUV concept unveiled 12 months last year. It will be followed by tweaked versions of the Urban SUV Concept and Sport Crossover Concept.
Toyota Urban SUV Concept
Toyota says that the Urban SUV concept will enter what is expected to be Europe’s largest BEV market segment in 2024. Customers will be offered two different battery choices and have the option of all-wheel drive. It will be followed by the Sport Crossover Concept set to launch in Europe in 2025. The other two remaining Europe-bound BEVs have not yet been previewed.
Read: Toyota’s Electric Urban SUV Is A Chunky Volvo EX30 Rival On Sale In 2024
Advanced battery technology is also at the top of Toyota’s to-do list. After 2026 it plans to introduce new batteries offering twice the driving range and a 20% cost reduction compared to the current bZ4X. This battery will be accompanied by a low-cost option using lithium iron phosphate chemistry that should have 20% more range and cost 40% less than the battery of the bZ4X. A third battery using nickel cathodes and promising further improvements in range and cost reductions is also on the cards.
Toyota Urban SUV Concept
The company is also pushing forward with its development of solid-state batteries and expects to begin commercialization of a battery in 2027-2028. It will be capable of charging from 10-80% in just 10 minutes.
At its event in Belgium, Toyota also unveiled a fleet of mobility solutions that will be used for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris next year. These include an ‘accessible people mover’ that’s all-electric and will be used to provide last-mile services and transport people with accessibility needs. It has also created a wheelchair e-puller that attaches to the front of a traditional wheelchair and converts it into one powered by a small battery and electric motor.
