TMC goes all in on full-electric models
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 10th Jun 2019
AS TOYOTA Motor Corporation (TMC) continues its transition “from an automobile company to a mobility company”, it has finally detailed its eagerly anticipated roadmap for full-electric models that will play a key role in this move.
Due to the “sudden surge” in demand for zero-emissions offerings, the Japanese giant has revised its sales projections, with it now predicting that at least 50 per cent of its vehicles sold in 2025 will feature some form of electrification – a full five years earlier than initially planned in 2017.
While TMC is already synonymous with hybridisation as well as fuel-cell powertrains, it will be its push into the full-electric market that will be critical in helping it achieve its goal, with “at least” 10 such models to become available globally by “the early 2020s”.
Mass production of these full-electric vehicles will begin in China next year, starting with the C-HR small SUV, which is also known as Izoa overseas.
As such, the world’s largest automotive market will be among the first that the company enters with its new zero-emissions offerings.
In a similar vein, the gradual introduction of Toyota- and Lexus-branded full-electric models will begin in markets with the biggest volume potential, including India, Europe and the United States, all of which currently have government incentives.
This rollout will also cover TMC’s native Japan, which will also be the target of a range of ‘ultra-compact’ full-electric vehicles that target the elderly, young people, corporations and local authorities.
Specifically, the company projects that it will sell about 4.5 million full and plug-in hybrid vehicles combined in 2025, while full-electric and fuel-cell offerings will together account for around one million units. By this stage, an electrified version of each of its models will be on sale.
In order to achieve these goals, TMC says it “will take a cooperative stance and work together with many parties”, including battery suppliers and even automotive rivals.
Following their 86/BRZ collaboration, Toyota and Subaru will partner up once again to produce a shared full-electric platform for mid-size and large models, dubbed e-TNGA, that will, among other vehicles, spawn a mid-size SUV that will be sold by both brands.
This model is one of six that TMC is jointly developing with its competitors, with it already known to be working on a small car with Suzuki, while a mid-size and large SUV, and a mid-size sedan and people-mover are also in the pipeline.
The e-TNGA architecture will support single- and dual-motor set-ups, enabling front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive applications, with Subaru Corporation providing its expertise on the latter, while TMC is chipping in its know-how on electrification.
The platform will have pre-determined fixed (electric-motor placement) and variable (front and rear ends) points, with the latter allowing the two partners to differentiate their resulting mid-size SUVs as well as future products.
Meanwhile, with TMC expecting its battery demand to grow about 20-fold by 2025 (from its 2018 level), it is looking beyond its current suppliers, Panasonic and PEVE, towards new supplementary partnerships that will produce more efficient, more durable power sources.
All of the above will help the company progress towards its ultimate goal of all of its vehicles sold in 2050 being equipped with a zero-emissions powertrain, whether that be full-electric or fuel-cell.
“Much work lies ahead to achieve the popularisation of BEVs,” TMC said in a statement.
“Specifically, we will be focusing on vehicle development and the stable supply, improved durability, and reuse of batteries.
“Toyota is steadily preparing a framework to respond thoroughly to the challenge, putting all the pieces in place, including the construction of new business models.
“We are searching for partners in a more extensive and open manner as we strive to contribute to a better society.”
