The major hurdle for EVs was getting energy density, capacity, and power from batteries, all problems that Toyota's hybrid technology solves with the ICE instea

The major hurdle for EVs was getting energy density, capacity, and power from batteries, all problems that Toyota's hybrid technology solves with the ICE instead (the Prius battery's primary function is to reclaim braking energy and assist the ICE). Therefore despite their lead in hybrids, that tech wasn't directly transferable to EVs.