Full electric powertrains are coming to Lexus in the very near future, as parent company Toyota announced plans today to introduce more than 10 EVs by the early 2020s.
As part of this EV future, every model in the Lexus lineup will be available either as a dedicated electrified model or have an electrified option by 2025 — this will include hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
This marks a dramatic shift for Toyota, who have been tentative in committing to full-electric vehicles in favor of fuel-cell and hybrid technologies. Hans Greimel of Automotive News explains the change in strategy:
Toyota had long argued that limited driving range, high costs and slow charging times would relegate EVs to a niche segment. But Toyota has changed gears as governments in China, Europe, India and elsewhere consider new regulations mandating eco-friendly vehicles to stem harmful emissions and pollution.
Toyota expects a battery breakthrough to help it overcome some of the technological challenges, including energy density, cost and weight. The carmaker says it aims to commercialize next-generation, solid-state batteries in the early 2020s.
The first new Toyota BEV is slated to debut in China before being gradually introduced in Japan, India, North America and Europe. The full press release is available here.
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