Interview Sheds Light On Toyotas Thinking About EVs – CleanTechnica

A recent interview at CarBuzz with Mike Sweers, executive chief engineer for the Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, Tacoma, and 4Runner programs at Toyota Motor North America, gives us some insight into Toyotas thinking not only on electric trucks, but electric vehicles in general. While I know the answers wont please BEV fanatics, there is some logic to the companys slow approach to EVs.

The short answer is that Toyota doesnt want to dive head first into the segment if it cant do the truck justice. the article says in the beginning. The long answer is a bit more complex than that, and after discussing everything from the next-gen Tacoma to how the brand sees the 4Runner taking the fight to the Ford Bronco, we discovered that the future of Toyotas approach to electrification is a fascinating one.

While automotive media has seen several electric product announcements and a commitment to electrification in the next five years from Toyota, Sweers says we shouldnt assume that means it is going all-in on fully-electric vehicles. Were taking a balanced approach to electrification, he told CarBuzz, whether its PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), BEV (battery electric vehicle), fuel cell, traditional hybrid series or parallel systems were taking a balanced approach. There isnt one offering that meets every customers needs.

Toyotas overall approach seems to be variety and diversity in its offerings. Toyota should be able to make the required changes as each sector demands them by maintaining a wide range of alternatives and powertrain solutions.

The article goes on to explain how Toyota applies this way of thinking to the truck segment. Instead of focusing only on the middle of the bell curve like most EV trucks right now, Toyota wants its electric offerings to reach out into the long tail of owner needs.

Sweers explains that with a gasoline or diesel pickup truck, you can carry an extra 10 gallons of fuel, so if you get stranded somewhere, youll have enough to reach a gas station. However, what do you do when your batteries run out? Its not like you take out the AAs and swap batteries while keeping going on foot with an EV.

Urban owners who dont get out deep into the backcountry would be happy with an electric Toyota truck, but theyd find themselves unable to do the most truck-like things you can do in a gas-powered pickup truck. This can lead to disappointment, and thats bad for Toyotas overall image and relevancy in the truck market.

One of the big takeaways was that Sweer thinks infrastructure is the big thing that needs to change before Toyota will offer a Tundra EV or any other EV truck or truck-based SUV.

Right now, we have the wild west out there. Teslas gone its own way, and its great until you have to charge your Tesla at a different supplier, Sweers told them. We have different connections, we have different safety features, we have different charging rates, we have different ways to get into the charging stations. Just finding a charging station that actually works is a difficult situation.

While I know some EV cheerleaders will try to dispute this, CarBuzz isnt the only publication that can claim to have seen the limits of infrastructure. Weve seen all sorts of truck testing and cross-country trips that didnt go great for people. Sometimes, theres a technical problem and you cant continue on your journey at all. Other times (especially towing), the time spent at charging stations along the way can be grueling.

Toyotas executive does make some great points in the interview. We cant just handwave and tell people that the EV experience is problem-free and limitation-free. While a Tesla sedan or crossover can do almost everything a gas-powered car can do, were not talking about sedans and crossovers, and were not talking about Tesla. If Toyota released a Tundra EV today, there are many things the gas Tundra would be able to do that the EV version wouldnt.

In some ways, this is reminiscent of the Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday adage in the industry. A lot of people will buy a vehicle because they see the manufacturer win races on TV, but those same people arent going to take their car out racing in most cases. Its also true that premium vehicles help a brand have a better image, and this helps sell the vehicles on the bottom end. The old saying on that goes, Corvettes sell Cavaliers.

A similar phenomenon could be very real for trucks. A person might go out and buy a pickup truck with plans to commute in it, and maybe go to Home Depot once or twice a month. But, they probably have aspirations of taking it on adventures at some point. They can probably see themselves heading out to Moab for some off-roading, or they probably think theyll get a boat or a travel trailer. Having a vehicle thats great for commuting, but might not be good for those long-tail adventures could derail the sale.

On top of this, Id add the impact of battery supplies, new legislation that will make it hard to get the tax credit, and several other factors that are going to challenge EVs this decade.

While the early worm can and does get eaten by the bird, that doesnt mean it doesnt pay to be the early bird. Tesla proves that out in spades. So, its probably unwise for Toyota to be the last to offer at least some electric trucks.

When it comes to infrastructure, we also have a bit of a chicken and egg problem. If there are no EV drivers, there will be no infrastructure built to support them. So, saying theres no infrastructure may be a little bit dishonest. To get there, youve got to offer some EVs to stimulate the market and get infrastructure to be a thing for the later adopters. Toyota might think other manufacturers can do all of that stimulating, but it could cost it customers while its behind the curve.

An electric Tacoma, if offered in real numbers, could do this, but Fords approach with the F-150 Lightning shows that you dont necessarily have to start small.

Featured image by Toyota.

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Interview Sheds Light On Toyotas Thinking About EVs - CleanTechnica