Toyota Led on Clean Cars. Now Critics Say It Works to Delay Them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/climate/toyota-electric-hydrogen.html
The Toyota Prius hybrid was a milestone in the history of clean cars,
attracting millions of buyers worldwide who could do their part for the
environment while saving money on gasoline.
But in recent months, Toyota, one of the world’s largest automakers, has
quietly become the industry’s strongest voice opposing an all-out
transition to electric vehicles —
...
Behind that position is a business quandary: Even as other automakers
have embraced electric cars, Toyota bet its future on the development of
hydrogen fuel cells — a costlier technology that has fallen far behind
electric batteries — with greater use of hybrids in the near term. That
means a rapid shift from gasoline to electric on the roads could be
devastating for the company’s market share and bottom line.
...
Together with other automakers, Toyota also sided with the Trump
administration in a battle with California over the Clean Air Act and
sued Mexico over fuel efficiency rules. In Japan, Toyota officials
argued against carbon taxes.
...
Toyota, a major sponsor of the Tokyo Olympics, has used that platform to
promote its message of sustainability. Hydrogen fueled the Olympic torch
for part of its journey, and Toyota’s fleet of sleek Mirai hydrogen fuel
cell cars have been whisking Olympic dignitaries around Tokyo.
Toyota is promoting itself as strongly backing a green transition, but
in effect, it is opposing efforts that others say are crucial to a swift
green transition.
...
On paper, Toyota’s approach to zero-emissions vehicles, the hydrogen
fuel cell, is a dream: Unlike battery-powered electric vehicles, these
cars carry hydrogen tanks and fuel cells that turn the hydrogen into
electricity. They refuel and accelerate quickly, and can travel for
several hundred miles on a tank, emitting only water vapor. And
hydrogen, theoretically, is abundant.
But a high sticker price, as well as lack of refueling infrastructure,
has hampered the growth of a hydrogen economy, at least for passenger
cars.
...
The automaker, based in Toyota City, Japan, has begun lagging behind in
fuel efficiency across its entire fleet, as it has pushed sales of
larger trucks and sports-utility vehicles, which bring bigger profit
margins. Environmental Protection Agency figures show that Toyota has
made relatively little progress on fuel economy over the past five
years, going from an industry leader to part of the bottom tier, along
with General Motors and Ford.
...
There are several factors that could ultimately force Toyota’s hand. For
one, China, an important market for Toyota, has moved aggressively to
require automakers there to make electric vehicles. That has spurred
Toyota to start producing electric cars under a joint venture.
...
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Peri
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