5 ms·

In theory you are correct but the extra ICE parts are for people for whom EVs don't cut it (too expensive, no proper charging infrastructure, usage pattern, etc

In theory you are correct but the extra ICE parts are for people for whom EVs don't cut it (too expensive, no proper charging infrastructure, usage pattern, etc.). This is actually a vast chunk of the world's population. So if you can't consistently go electric a PHEV is a good mix. But on the topic of hauling, I can detect some bigotry in the complains about some people needlessly hauling the ICE parts of a PHEV when most drivers are needlessly hauling an entire car for something a bike and public transport do just fine. The environmental difference between EV and bikes is far, far larger than between EV and PHEV. So maybe let's just agree that some changes can't or won't happen in a single step and some intermediate, less than ideal positions are needed. Complaining about everyone who doesn't fit exactly our model of needs, likes and capabilities is usually just virtue signaling.

yardie 4y ago
The vast majority of the world don’t need a car at all. My problem isn’t with the the transition vehicles like PHEV. It’s the fact that Toyota doesn’t seem to have any strategy at all. None of the Japanese car mfgs have a ZEV strategy and 2030 is a lot closer now than it was in 2020. They won’t be able to sell their cars in China in a few years. The largest, fastest growing market right now. Where do you think they’ll be in 5 years?
- buran77 4y ago
  Looks to me like right now they chose the best (least bad?) strategy one could choose in their position of being late to the party. They focus on a way to spread the thin supply of batteries they have while covering as big a part of the market as they can, and at the same time still letting the investments they made in ICE bring some returns. They also target a segment that's mostly an afterthought for other manufacturers. On paper they could go all in on EVs but they'd make a pitiful number while competing with the big players who have a lot more room to maneuver with their margins. A PHEV with 200km electric range might as well be a full EV 90% of the time but being able to cover the other 10% (every other condition and anxiety) is enough to win more people over. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

yardie 4y ago

The vast majority of the world don’t need a car at all. My problem isn’t with the the transition vehicles like PHEV. It’s the fact that Toyota doesn’t seem to have any strategy at all. None of the Japanese car mfgs have a ZEV strategy and 2030 is a lot closer now than it was in 2020. They won’t be able to sell their cars in China in a few years. The largest, fastest growing market right now. Where do you think they’ll be in 5 years?

buran77 4y ago
Looks to me like right now they chose the best (least bad?) strategy one could choose in their position of being late to the party. They focus on a way to spread the thin supply of batteries they have while covering as big a part of the market as they can, and at the same time still letting the investments they made in ICE bring some returns. They also target a segment that's mostly an afterthought for other manufacturers. On paper they could go all in on EVs but they'd make a pitiful number while competing with the big players who have a lot more room to maneuver with their margins. A PHEV with 200km electric range might as well be a full EV 90% of the time but being able to cover the other 10% (every other condition and anxiety) is enough to win more people over. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.