Editing Toyota (section)

==Technology==
===Hybrid electric vehicles===
{{Main|Toyota hybrid vehicles}}{{see also|Hybrid Synergy Drive|Toyota Prius}}
[[File:2023 Toyota Prius Limited AWD in Cutting Edge Silver, Front Right, 07-04-2023.jpg|thumb|The Toyota Prius, flagship of Toyota's hybrid technology, is the world's best-selling hybrid car.]]

Toyota is the world's leader in sales of [[Toyota hybrid vehicles|hybrid electric vehicles]], one of the largest companies to encourage the mass-market adoption of hybrid vehicles across the globe, and the first to commercially mass-produce and sell such vehicles, with the introduction of the [[Toyota Prius (XW10)|XW10]] [[Toyota Prius]] in 1997.<ref name="TMC9miHEVs">{{Cite press release |title=Worldwide Sales of Toyota Hybrids Surpass 9 Million Units |date=May 20, 2016 |publisher=Toyota |location=[[Toyota City, Japan]] |url=http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/12077091/ |access-date=May 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523092028/http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/12077091 |archive-date=May 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="HEVleader">{{Cite web |last=Klippenstein |first=Matthew |date=August 22, 2013 |title=Does Toyota's Hybrid Leadership Blind It To Electric Cars? |url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1086374_does-toyotas-hybrid-leadership-blind-it-to-electric-cars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515175040/http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1086374_does-toyotas-hybrid-leadership-blind-it-to-electric-cars |archive-date=May 15, 2016 |access-date=May 22, 2016 |publisher=Green Car Reports}}</ref> The company's hybrid technology is called [[Hybrid Synergy Drive]], and it was later applied to many vehicles in Toyota's product lineup, starting first with the [[Toyota Camry Hybrid|Camry]] and the technology was also brought to the luxury [[Lexus]] division.

{{As of|2020|01}}, Toyota Motor Corporation sells 44 Toyota and Lexus hybrid passenger car models in over 90 countries and regions around the world, and the carmaker has sold over 15 million hybrid vehicles since 1997.<ref name="TMC10miHEVs">{{Cite press release |title=Worldwide Sales of Toyota Hybrids Surpass 10 Million Units |date=January 14, 2017 |publisher=Toyota Europe |location=[[Toyota City, Japan]] |url=http://newsroom.toyota.eu/global-sales-of-toyota-hybrids-reach-10-million/ |access-date=January 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216123452/http://newsroom.toyota.eu/global-sales-of-toyota-hybrids-reach-10-million/ |archive-date=February 16, 2017}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}} The [[Prius family]] is the world's top-selling hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle [[nameplate]] with almost 4 million units sold worldwide as of January 2017.<ref name="TMC10miHEVs" />{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}}

===Hydrogen fuel-cell===
{{primary|section|date=December 2023}}
{{See also|Toyota Mirai}}
[[File:Toyota Mirai (JPD20) IMG 5303.jpg|thumb|The Toyota Mirai fuel-cell vehicle]]
[[File:Tobus_Toyota_SORA_Fuel_Cell_Buses_at_Fukagawa_Dept_01.jpg|thumb|The [[Toyota FCHV#SORA|Toyota SORA]] fuel-cell bus]]

In 2002, Toyota began a development and demonstration program to test the [[Toyota FCHV]], a [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] [[hydrogen vehicle|hydrogen]] [[fuel cell vehicle|fuel cell]] vehicle based on the [[Toyota Highlander]] production [[SUV]]. Toyota also built a FCHV bus based on the [[Hino Blue Ribbon City]] low-floor bus.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Toyota FCHV Fact Sheet |date=September 11, 2008 |publisher=Toyota USA |url=http://pressroom.toyota.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=2388 |access-date=January 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023113648/http://pressroom.toyota.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=2388 |archive-date=October 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Toyota to Begin Leasing Advanced Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle |date=August 29, 2008 |publisher=Toyota Japan |url=http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/08/0829.html |access-date=January 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425203847/http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/08/0829.html |archive-date=April 25, 2013}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}} Toyota has built several prototypes/concepts of the FCHV since 1997, including the [[Toyota FCHV-1]], [[Toyota FCHV-2|FCHV-2]], [[Toyota FCHV-3|FCHV-3]], [[Toyota FCHV-4|FCHV-4]], and [[Toyota FCHV-adv]]. The [[Toyota FCV-R]] fuel cell concept car was unveiled at the 2011 [[Tokyo Motor Show]]. The FCV-R sedan seats four and has a [[fuel cell]] stack including a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen tank, which can deliver a range of {{Convert|435|mi|abbr=on}} under the [[Japanese JC08 test|Japanese JC08 test cycle]]. Toyota said the car was planned for launch in about 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Zach |last=Bowman |date=November 30, 2011 |title=Toyota FCV-R Concept is otherworldly |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/toyota-fcv-r-concept-tokyo-2011/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017020813/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/toyota-fcv-r-concept-tokyo-2011/ |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2013 |publisher=[[Autoblog]]}}</ref>

In August 2012, Toyota announced its plans to start retail sales of a hydrogen fuel-cell [[Sedan (automobile)|sedan]] in California in 2015. Toyota expects to become a leader in this technology.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Alisa |last=Priddle |date=March 17, 2013 |title=Toyota to start selling hydrogen fuel-cell car in 2015 |work=[[USA Today]] |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/08/toyota-to-start-selling-hydrogen-fuel-cell-car-in-2015/1#.UXK8KLWG18E |url-status=live |access-date=August 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811072719/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/08/toyota-to-start-selling-hydrogen-fuel-cell-car-in-2015/1#.UXK8KLWG18E |archive-date=August 11, 2012}}</ref> The [[prototype]] of its first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will be exhibited at the November 2013 [[Tokyo Motor Show#2013|Tokyo Motor Show]], and in the United States at the January 2014 [[Consumer Electronics Show]].<ref name="Forbers082013">{{Cite news |first=Joann |last=Muller |date=August 29, 2013 |title=Toyota Unveils Plans For 15 New Or Improved Hybrids (It Already Has 23) |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2013/08/29/toyota-flexes-its-muscles-with-plans-for-new-wave-of-hybrids/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006091307/http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2013/08/29/toyota-flexes-its-muscles-with-plans-for-new-wave-of-hybrids/ |archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref>

Toyota's first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to be sold commercially, the Toyota Mirai (Japanese for "future"), was unveiled at the November [[Los Angeles Auto Show#2014|2014 Los Angeles Auto Show]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Millikin |first=Mike |date=November 17, 2014 |title=Akio Toyoda announces name of Toyota's new fuel cell sedan in web video: Mirai |url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/11/20141117-mirai.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117153214/http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/11/20141117-mirai.html |archive-date=November 17, 2014 |access-date=November 17, 2014 |publisher=Green Car Congress}}</ref> In January 2015, it was announced that production of the Mirai fuel cell vehicle would increase from 700 units in 2015 to approximately 2,000 in 2016 and 3,000 in 2017.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Toyota Mirai production to be increased |date=January 22, 2015 |publisher=Toyota |location=UK |url=http://blog.toyota.co.uk/toyota-mirai-production-increased |access-date=February 11, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904024627/http://blog.toyota.co.uk/toyota-mirai-production-increased |archive-date=September 4, 2015}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}} Sales in Japan began in December 2014.<ref name="JapPrice">{{Cite news |first=Ken |last=Moritsugu |date=November 18, 2014 |title=Toyota to start sales of fuel cell car next month |publisher=Fox News Chicago |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/27410215/toyota-to-launch-fuel-cell-car-next-month |url-status=dead |access-date=November 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129040514/http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/27410215/toyota-to-launch-fuel-cell-car-next-month |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> Retail sales in the U.S. began in August 2015, initially only in California.<ref name="GCR112014">{{Cite web |first=John |last=Voelcker |date=November 18, 2014 |title=2016 Toyota Mirai Priced At $57,500, With $499 Monthly Lease |url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095511_2016-toyota-mirai-priced-at-57500-with-499-monthly-lease |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118233932/http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095511_2016-toyota-mirai-priced-at-57500-with-499-monthly-lease |archive-date=November 18, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014 |publisher=Green Car Reports}}</ref><ref name="HC112014">{{Cite web |first=Jeff |last=Cobb |date=November 17, 2014 |title=Toyota Mirai To Be Priced From $57,500 |url=http://www.hybridcars.com/toyota-mirai-to-be-priced-from-57500/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120231445/http://www.hybridcars.com/toyota-mirai-to-be-priced-from-57500/ |archive-date=November 20, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014 |publisher=HybridCars.com}}</ref> The market release in Europe is slated for September 2015, and initially will be available only in the UK, Germany, and Denmark, followed by other countries in 2017.<ref name="ToyotaEU">{{Cite press release |title=Toyota Ushers In The Future With Launch Of 'Mirai' Fuel Cell Sedan |date=November 1, 2014 |publisher=Toyota |location=Europe |url=http://newsroom.toyota.eu/pressrelease/4124//toyota-ushers-future-launch-mirai-fuel-cell-sedan |access-date=November 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20141205173620/http://newsroom.toyota.eu/pressrelease/4124//toyota-ushers-future-launch-mirai-fuel-cell-sedan |archive-date=December 5, 2014}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}}

In 2015, Toyota released 5,600 patents for free use until 2020, hoping to promote global development of hydrogen fuel-cell technology.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Gabe |date=January 5, 2015 |title=Toyota opens up 5,600 hydrogen-related patents to advance fuel cell technology |work=Autoweek |location=US |url=http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/toyota-opens-5600-hydrogen-patents-advance-fuel-cell-technology |url-status=live |access-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430083108/http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/toyota-opens-5600-hydrogen-patents-advance-fuel-cell-technology |archive-date=April 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hasegawa |first1=Takahiko |title=SAE Technical Paper Series |last2=Imanishi |first2=Hiroyuki |last3=Nada |first3=Mitsuhiro |last4=Ikogi |first4=Yoshihiro |date=April 5, 2016 |publisher=SAE |volume=1 |location=US |chapter=Development of the Fuel Cell System in the Mirai FCV |doi=10.4271/2016-01-1185 |access-date=April 28, 2016 |chapter-url=http://papers.sae.org/2016-01-1185/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428015117/http://papers.sae.org/2016-01-1185/ |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mizutani |first1=Nobuaki |title=SAE Technical Paper Series |last2=Ishibashi |first2=Kazunobu |date=April 5, 2016 |publisher=SAE |volume=1 |location=US |chapter=Enhancing PtCo Electrode Catalyst Performance for Fuel Cell Vehicle Application |doi=10.4271/2016-01-1187 |access-date=April 28, 2016 |chapter-url=http://papers.sae.org/2016-01-1187/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428021326/http://papers.sae.org/2016-01-1187/ |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kato |first=Hisao |date=April 5, 2016 |title=In-Situ Liquid TEM Study on the Degradation Mechanism of Fuel Cell Catalysts |url=http://papers.sae.org/2016-01-1192/ |url-status=live |journal=SAE International Journal of Alternative Powertrains |location=US |publisher=SAE |volume=5 |pages=189–194 |doi=10.4271/2016-01-1192 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428020720/http://papers.sae.org/2016-01-1192/ |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |access-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref>

Since the mid-2010s, Toyota has increased its focus on building hydrogen powered trucks. It first showcased a heavy-duty semi-truck tractor in 2017<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stewart |first=Jack |title=Toyota Insists Hydrogen Is Still a Great Idea, Will Now Use It to Power Trucks |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2017/04/toyotas-still-serious-hydrogen-built-semi-prove/ |access-date=July 27, 2023 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> and in 2023 announced a kit to convert existing diesel-powered truck engines to use hydrogen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gastelu |first=Gary |date=May 1, 2023 |title=Toyota can turn diesel semis into hydrogen-powered big rigs now |url=https://www.foxnews.com/auto/toyota-diesel-semis-hydrogen-powered-big-rigs |access-date=July 27, 2023 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> In late 2022, the company signed an {{£|11.3 million|link=yes}} government deal with the UK's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to help it develop a hydrogen-powered Hilux pickup truck.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-63827102 | title=Toyota in £11.3m government deal to develop hydrogen pickup trucks | date=December 2, 2022 | publisher=BBC News |access-date=December 2, 2022}}</ref>

===Plug-in hybrids===
{{Main|Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid|Toyota RAV4 Prime}}
[[File:Toyota Prius Prime WAS 2017 1584.jpg|thumb|Second-generation Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid]]

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid Concept was exhibited in late 2009, and shortly after, a global demonstration program involving 600 [[Pre-production car|pre-production test cars]] began. The vehicles were leased to fleet and government customers, and were equipped with data tracking devices to allow Toyota to monitor the car's performance. The vehicle was based on the [[Toyota Prius (XW30)|third-generation Toyota Prius]] and outfitted with two additional [[Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]] beyond the normal hybrid battery pack.<ref name="AutoBlog092">{{Cite web |last=Abuelsamid |first=Sam |date=December 14, 2009 |title=Toyota officially launches plug-in Prius program, retail sales in 2011 |url=http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/toyota-officially-launches-plug-in-prius-program-retail-sales-i/ |access-date=December 22, 2009 |publisher=[[Autoblog Green]]}}</ref> The additional batteries were used to operate the car with minimal use of the [[internal combustion engine]] until they are depleted, at which point they are disengaged from the system. They are not used in tandem with the main hybrid battery pack.

After the conclusion of the demonstration program, the production version of the [[Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid|Prius Plug-in Hybrid]] was unveiled in September 2011. The production Prius Plug-in had a maximum electric-only speed of {{convert|62|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}, and the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) rated the vehicle as having a range of {{convert|11|mi|km|0|abbr=|order=flip}} in [[blended mode]] (mostly electric, but supplemented by the internal combustion engine).<ref name="EPArating">{{Cite web |last=Toyota News Release |date=February 28, 2012 |title=Prius Plug-In eligibile for a $1,500 California consumer incentive plus $2,500 Federal tax credit |url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/prius-20120228.html |access-date=February 29, 2012 |publisher=Green Car Congress}}</ref> Toyota ultimately only did a small production run with 75,400 vehicles being produced between 2012 and 2016.<ref name="1genEnd2">{{Cite web |first=Brad |last=Berman |date=May 1, 2015 |title=Toyota Halts Production of Prius Plug-in Hybrid Until Late 2016 |url=http://www.plugincars.com/toyota-stops-production-current-prius-plug-hybrid-130691.html |access-date=June 20, 2015 |publisher=Plugincars.com}}</ref>

The second-generation Prius Plug-in (renamed the Prius Prime in the US) was unveiled in early 2016.<ref name="PriusPrime23">{{Cite news |last=Undercoffler |first=David |date=March 23, 2016 |title=Toyota looks to boost Prius with all-new plug-in Prime |work=[[Automotive News]] |url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20160323/OEM04/303239954/toyota-looks-to-boost-prius-with-all-new-plug-in-prime |access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> Unlike the prior generation, where the plug-in battery was limited by being added to the existing Prius, this model would be developed in tandem with the [[Toyota Prius (XW50)|fourth-generation Prius]], allowing Toyota to increase the range to {{convert|25|mi|km|0|abbr=|order=flip}}, with a top speed of {{convert|84|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}, without needing the assistance of the internal combustion engine.<ref name="PriusPrime12">{{Cite news |last=Blanco |first=Sebastian |date=March 23, 2016 |title=Toyota Prius Prime plugs in with 22 EV miles |work=Autoblog.com |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/23/toyota-prius-prime-new-york-official/ |access-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> The second-generation Prius Plug-in went on sale starting in late 2016, with Toyota expecting to sell up to 60,000 units globally per year.<ref name="JapanPHV2">{{Cite news |last=Tajitsu |first=Naomi |date=February 15, 2017 |title=Toyota sees plug-in hybrids catching on faster than conventional hybrids |publisher=Automotive News |agency=[[Reuters]]|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20170215/OEM05/170219908/toyota-sees-plug-in-hybrids-catching-on-faster-than-conventional |access-date=February 19, 2017}} ''Around 75,000 first generation Prius plug-ins have been sold since its launch in 2012.''</ref>

A second plug-in hybrid model, the Toyota RAV4 PHV (RAV4 Prime in the US) was unveiled in December 2019. The vehicle has an EPA-estimated {{convert|42|mi|km|0|abbr=|order=flip}} of all-electric range and generates a combined {{Convert|302|hp|order=flip}}, enabling it to be Toyota's second fastest car currently in production (behind the GR Supra 3.0 sports car).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beard |first=David |date=July 2, 2020 |title=Tested: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Is Quicker Than Supra 2.0 |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a33028735/2021-toyota-rav4-prime-xse-by-the-numbers/ |access-date=July 28, 2021 |website=Car and Driver |language=en-US}}</ref> Sales started in mid-2020.

===Battery electric vehicles===
[[File:2022 Hakone Ekiden Headquarter car bZ4X (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Toyota bZ4X]]]]

Toyota has been criticized for being slow to add [[battery electric vehicles]] to its lineup. It has been publicly skeptical of battery-electric vehicles, instead focusing on hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles,<ref name="WP0912" /> and actively lobbying against government mandates to transition to [[zero-emissions vehicle]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tabuchi |first=Hiroko |author-link=Hiroko Tabuchi |date=July 25, 2021 |title=Toyota Led on Clean Cars. Now Critics Say It Works to Delay Them. |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/climate/toyota-electric-hydrogen.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/climate/toyota-electric-hydrogen.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited |access-date=July 27, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, only a small proportion of the vehicles the company sells are of battery electric, which has prompted criticism by some environmental and public interest groups.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.citizen.org/news/biden-administration-must-push-toyota-to-make-stronger-public-commitment-on-evs/ |title=Biden Administration Must Push Toyota to Make Stronger Public Commitment on EVs |work=Public Citizen |location=US |date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg-2023-01-06">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-01-06/toyota-nissan-risk-status-loss-as-tesla-vw-byd-top-global-electric-car-market |title=The World's Love Affair With Japanese Cars Is Souring |first1=Bruce |last1=Einhorn |first2=Nao |last2=Sano |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|location=US |date=January 6, 2023 |access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref> The company plans to increase its sales of electric vehicles to 3.5 million per year by 2030.<ref name="Kyodo News 2021" /> However, the company has stated that it believes other technologies, including hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, will continue to play a role in the future of the company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Toyota doubles down on hydrogen with a new mirai and commercial trucks |url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a35026252/toyota-hydrogen/ |website=www.autoweek.com |publisher=Autoweek |access-date=June 26, 2021 |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626222357/https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a35026252/toyota-hydrogen/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2016 |title=Toyota doubles down on hybrids despite china's subsidies snub |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-24/toyota-doubling-down-on-hybrids-despite-china-s-subsidies-snub |website=www.bloomberg.com |publisher=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Toyota created the first generation [[Toyota RAV4 EV]] (Electric Vehicle) as a [[compliance car]] after the [[California Air Resources Board]] mandated in the late 1990s that every automaker offer a zero-emissions vehicle.<ref name="NYT0710">{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Motavalli |date=July 16, 2010 |title=Toyota and Tesla Plan an Electric RAV4 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/16/toyota-and-tesla-plan-an-electric-rav4/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718163726/http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/16/toyota-and-tesla-plan-an-electric-rav4/ |archive-date=July 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Toyota Concept Vehicles-- RAV4 EV |url=http://www.toyota.com/concept-vehicles/rav4ev.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123133646/http://www.toyota.com/concept-vehicles/rav4ev.html |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |access-date=January 22, 2012 |publisher=Toyota USA}}</ref> A total of 1,484 were leased and/or sold in California from 1997 to 2003, when the state dropped its mandate under legal pressure from lawsuits filed by automakers.<ref name="Boschert06">{{Cite book |last=[[Sherry Boschert]] |url=https://archive.org/details/pluginhybridscar00bosc |title=Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America |publisher=New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, Canada |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-86571-571-4 |access-date=September 7, 2019 |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231172303/http://www.sherryboschert.com/plugin_and_more.html |archive-date=December 31, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A second generation of the RAV4 EV was developed in 2010 as part of a deal with [[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]]. The production version was unveiled in August 2012, using battery pack, electronics and powertrain components from Tesla.<ref name="Toyota Telsa">{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2012 |title=Toyota RAV4 EV key for meeting California ZEV requirements; Tesla powertrain uses Model S components |url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/rav4ev-20120803.html |access-date=August 4, 2012 |website=Green Car Congress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=White|first=Addison|date=July 30, 2020|title=Toyota Once Partnered With Tesla to Make a Disappointing Electric RAV4|url=https://www.motorbiscuit.com/toyota-once-partnered-with-tesla-to-make-a-disappointing-electric-rav4/|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=MotorBiscuit|language=en-US}}</ref> The RAV4 EV had a limited production run with just under 3,000 vehicles being produced, before it was discontinued in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 29, 2014 |title=Toyota Wraps Up Production of RAV4 EV |language=en |work=PluginCars.com |url=http://www.plugincars.com/toyota-wraps-production-rav4-ev-130150.html |access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2018 |title=Don't look for a Toyota RAV4 EV successor anytime soon |language=en |work=Roadshow |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/toyota-rav4-ev-sounds-unlikely-hybrid-double-down/ |access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref> According to Bloomberg News, the partnership between Tesla and Toyota was "marred by clashes between engineers".<ref name="Trudell & Ohnsman 2014">{{Cite news |last1=Trudell |first1=Craig |last2=Ohnsman |first2=Alan |date=August 7, 2014 |title=Why the Tesla-Toyota Partnership Short-Circuited |language=en |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-08-07/tesla-toyota-deal-to-develop-electric-suv-fizzles |access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref>

Starting in 2009, Toyota introduced three generations of concept electric vehicles called the [[FT-EV]] built on a modified [[Toyota iQ]] platform. In late-2012, the company announced plans to build a production version of the car called the [[Toyota iQ EV]] (Scion iQ EV in the US, Toyota eQ in Japan),<ref name="iQEV">{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2011 |title=Toyota officially confirms 2012 launch of electric Scion iQ |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/01/toyota-officially-confirms-2012-launch-of-electric-scion-iq/?a_dgi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023200336/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/01/toyota-officially-confirms-2012-launch-of-electric-scion-iq/?a_dgi |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2011 |publisher=[[Autoblog]]}}</ref> but ultimately production was cut back to 100 cars for special fleet use in Japan and the U.S. only.<ref name="WP0912">{{Cite news |date=September 24, 2012 |title=Toyota beefs up green vehicles, plans electric car for this year, fuel cell vehicle by 2015 |work=[[Toledo Blade]] |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2012/09/24/Toyota-beefs-up-green-vehicles-plans-electric-car-for-this-year-fuel-cell-vehicle-by-2015.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302175523/http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2012/09/24/Toyota-beefs-up-green-vehicles-plans-electric-car-for-this-year-fuel-cell-vehicle-by-2015.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref>

In late 2012, Toyota announced that it would back away from fully electric vehicles, after producing less than 5,000. At the time, the company's vice chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, said: "''The current capabilities of electric vehicles do not meet society's needs, whether it may be the distance the cars can run, or the costs, or how it takes a long time to charge''."

A shift in Toyota's formerly battery-agnostic posture could be seen as early as 2016, when Toyota's CFO Takahiko Ijichi "sent a strong signal that Toyota soon plans to jump on the battery bandwagon and make electric cars despite expressing skeptical views about their range and charging times," as the Wall Street Journal wrote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 2016 |title= Toyota Looks to Electric Cars as Stronger Yen Dents Profits |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/toyota-profit-falls-on-strong-yen-weak-u-s-sales-1478586115?mod=pls_whats_news_us_business_f|author = Sean McLain |newspaper= [[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> Toyota said it would make and sell battery-electric vehicles if and where regulations and markets demand.

A year later, Toyota outlined its electric-vehicle plans for between 2020 and 2030 to the press in Tokyo, saying it would introduce ''"more than 10"'' battery-electric vehicles worldwide by the early 2020s, beginning in China, and later in Japan, Europe, the US and India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2017 |title= Toyota to introduce 10 electric cars by mid-2020s |url= https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/toyota-to-introduce-10-electric-cars-by-mid-2020s/|author = Andrew Krok }}</ref>

In April 2019, Toyota introduced the [[Toyota C-HR EV|C-HR EV]], its first mass-produced pure electric model in China along with an identical twin called the IZOA EV.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Toyota Premieres Toyota-brand Battery Electric Vehicles Ahead of 2020 China Launch |url=https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/27769546.html |access-date=October 31, 2021 |publisher=Toyota}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}} It went on sale in April 2020 and May 2020 respectively. Nikkei reported in October 2020 that Toyota had only sold less than 2,000 units in the first eight months of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 6, 2021|title=Toyota C-HR Electric fails to excite customers in China|url=https://electricvehicleweb.com/toyota-c-hr-electric-first-photos/|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=ElectricVehicleWeb|language=en-US}}</ref>

Toyota introduced the [[Toyota C+pod|C+pod]] in late 2020, a 2-seater [[kei car]] with an estimated range of {{Convert|100|km}} and a top speed of {{Convert|60|km/h}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Padeanu |first=Adrian |date=October 17, 2019 |title=Toyota Reveals Tiny Production EV Ahead Of Late 2020 Launch |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/376824/toyota-ultra-compact-bev-revealed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018115127/https://www.motor1.com/news/376824/toyota-ultra-compact-bev-revealed/ |archive-date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=October 17, 2019 |website=[[Motorsport Network#Motor1.com|Motor1.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Szymkowski |first=Sean |date=October 17, 2019 |title=Teeny-weeny Toyota electric city car will hit Japanese streets next year |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/toyota-electric-city-car-japan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018115148/https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/toyota-electric-city-car-japan/ |archive-date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=October 17, 2019 |website=[[CNET|Roadshow]]}}</ref>

In December 2020, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda stated that electric cars are excessively "hyped" and that, in Japan, they would not necessarily reduce carbon dioxide emissions since electricity is mostly generated by burning coal and natural gas in the country. He also said that the infrastructure needed for Japan to switch fully to EVs would cost between $135 billion and $358 billion and switching only to EVs would cost millions of jobs and make cars less affordable.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2020 |title=Toyota's chief says electric vehicles are overhyped |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/toyotas-chief-says-electric-vehicles-are-overhyped-11608196665 |website=www.wsj.com |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

In April 2021, Toyota revealed the [[Toyota bZ4X|bZ4X]], an electric crossover SUV that will be the first vehicle built on a dedicated electric platform called [[Toyota New Global Architecture#e-TNGA|e-TNGA]] when it goes on sale in mid-2022.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Toyota announces its new BEV series, Toyota bZ, in establishment of a full line-up of electrified vehicles |url=https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/35083987.html |access-date=April 19, 2021 |publisher=Toyota}}</ref> It is the first model of the [[Toyota bZ series|bZ]] ("beyond Zero") series of battery electric vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gauthier |first=Michael |date=April 19, 2021 |title=Toyota's bZ4X Concept Previews An Electric SUV Coming In 2022 |url=https://www.carscoops.com/2021/04/toyotas-bz4x-concept-previews-an-electric-crossover-coming-in-2022/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |website=Carscoops}}</ref> The company has also stated that there will be seven "bZ" models to be launched globally out of 15 BEV models by 2025.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Toyota Reveals Global Electrification Strategy in Shanghai |url=https://toyota.pressroom.com.au/press_release_detail.asp?clientID=2&prID=45748&navSectionID=2 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |publisher=Toyota |location=Australia |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419042235/https://toyota.pressroom.com.au/press_release_detail.asp?clientID=2&prID=45748&navSectionID=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}}

In June 2021, Transport & Environment ranked Toyota as the least ready OEM to transition to battery electric vehicles by 2030, stating: "Toyota has not set a target for 2030 and it plans to produce just 10% BEVs in 2025. It is expected to rely on polluting hybrid technologies."<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2021 |title=Volvo and VW the only European carmakers on track to electrify on time – study |url=https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/volvo-and-vw-only-european-carmakers-track-electrify-time-study |website=www.transportenvironment.com |publisher=Transport & Environment |access-date=June 26, 2021 |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626222348/https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/volvo-and-vw-only-european-carmakers-track-electrify-time-study |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda announces major shift in the company's BEV plans.png|thumb|[[Akio Toyoda]] shows prototypes of 15 BEVs during Toyota's briefing on BEV strategies in December 2021.]]

In December 2021, Toyota announced in Tokyo plans for 30 battery-electric models by 2030, to sell 3.5 million BEVs per year by that date, and that its premium-brand Lexus will be 100% battery-operated by 2030 in North America, Europe, and China. The company announced investments of $70 billion into the company's electrification.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2021 |title= Toyota commits $70 bln to bolster electrification, shares rally |url= https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyota-says-have-30-battery-electric-line-up-vehicles-by-2030-2021-12-14//|author = Tim Kelly |website= [[Reuters]] }}</ref>

In a session in parallel with the G-7 Meeting 2023 May, Akio Toyoda said that battery electric vehicles are not solely the future, instead offering a mix of battery electric, internal combustion engine-equipped and hydrogen cars.<ref name="Bloomberg-2023-01-06"/>

Toyota has been developing [[Solid-state battery|solid-state batteries]] in partnership with [[Panasonic]], in which the company has more than a thousand patents covering solid-state batteries by late 2020.<ref name="motortrend.com">{{Cite web|date=September 8, 2021|title=Toyota's Already Testing Its Solid-State Battery Tech on Public Roads|url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-battery-bev-hev-solid-state-future-investment/|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=MotorTrend|language=en}}</ref> The technology has been implemented on the Toyota LQ concept. Toyota hopes the technology could increase efficiency of battery electric vehicles by 30 percent, which in turn would reduce battery costs by the same amount.<ref name="motortrend.com"/>

===Autonomous vehicles===
{{Main|Woven by Toyota, Inc.}}
[[File:Toyota e-Palette.jpg|right|thumb|Toyota e-Palette]]

Toyota is also regarded as lagging when it comes to developing [[Self-driving car|smart car technology]].<ref name="Bloomberg 2018">{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2018 |title=Toyota's Vision of Autonomous Cars Is Not Exactly Driverless – Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-09-19/toyota-s-vision-of-autonomous-cars-is-not-exactly-driverless |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117232533/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-09-19/toyota-s-vision-of-autonomous-cars-is-not-exactly-driverless |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |website=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]}}</ref> Although the company unveiled its first self-driving test vehicle in 2017, and has been developing its own self-driving technology named "Chauffeur" (intended for full self-driving) and "Guardian" (a driver assist system), neither of these has been introduced into any production vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 3, 2017 |title=Toyota's billion-dollar AI research center has a new self-driving car |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/3/14803734/toyota-research-institute-self-driving-car-lexus |access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref>

The company had set up a large research and development operation by 2018, spending almost US$4 billion to start an autonomous vehicle research institute in California's [[Silicon Valley]]<ref name="Bloomberg 2018" /> and another ¥300 billion on a similar research institute in Tokyo that would partner with fellow Toyota Group companies and automotive suppliers [[Aisin Seiki]] and [[Denso]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2018 |title=Toyota starts a new $2.8 billion company to develop self-driving software |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/2/17070828/toyota-research-institute-tri-ad-tokyo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117122318/https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/2/17070828/toyota-research-institute-tri-ad-tokyo |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2018 |title=Toyota Is Launching a $2.8 Billion Self-Driving Car Company |url=https://futurism.com/toyota-self-driving-car-company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117122337/https://futurism.com/toyota-self-driving-car-company |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |website=Futurism}}</ref>

Toyota has also been collaborating with autonomous vehicle technology developers and, in some cases, purchasing the companies. Toyota has acquired the autonomous vehicle division of ride-hailing service [[Lyft]] for $550 million,<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2021 |title=Toyota is buying Lyft's autonomous car division for $550 million |publisher=[[The Verge]] |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/26/22404406/toyota-lyft-autonomous-vehicle-acquisition-amount-deal |access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref> invested a total of US$1 billion in competing ride-hailing service [[Uber]]'s self-driving vehicle division,<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2018 |title=Toyota to invest $500m in Uber in driverless car deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45324753 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117155525/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45324753 |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2018 |title=Toyota to invest $500m in Uber for self-driving car programme |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/28/toyota-to-invest-500m-in-uber-for-self-driving-car-programme |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117174233/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/28/toyota-to-invest-500m-in-uber-for-self-driving-car-programme |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> invested $400 million in autonomous vehicle technology company [[Pony.ai]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 25, 2020 |title=Toyota steers $400 million to self-driving startup Pony.ai |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/25/21152817/toyota-pony-ai-self-driving-car-investment-valuation-china-silicon-valley |access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref> and announced a partnership with Chinese electronics e-commerce company [[Cogobuy]] to build a "Smart Car Ecosystem."<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2019 |title=INGDAN.com Partners with Toyota to Build New Smart Car Ecosystem That Will Empower Technology Upgrades Across the Automotive Industry |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/PR-CO-20190116-906456 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328134236/https://www.wsj.com/articles/PR-CO-20190116-906456 |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

In December 2020, Toyota showcased the 20-passenger "e-Palette" [[Vehicular automation#Shared autonomous vehicles|shared autonomous vehicle]], which saw its first major use at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in [[Tokyo]].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Akio Toyoda Visits the e-Palette Operation Support Team on the Opening Ceremony Day |url=https://toyotatimes.jp/en/insidetoyota/162.html |language=en |access-date=August 5, 2021 |website=TOYOTA TIMES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Toyota Unveils Their e-Palette Self-Driving Shuttles |url=https://www.ubergizmo.com/2020/12/toyota-e-palette-self-driving-shuttle/ |access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref> Toyota has announced it intends to have the vehicle available for commercial applications before 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 11, 2021 |title=Toyota e-Palette autonomous vehicles to be rolled out "within the next few years" |publisher=caradvice |url=https://www.caradvice.com.au/923460/toyota-e-palette-autonomous-vehicles-to-be-rolled-out-within-the-next-few-years/ |access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref>

Since February 2021, Toyota has been building the "Woven City" which it calls a "175-acre high tech, sensor-laden metropolis" at the foot of [[Mount Fuji]]. When completed in 2024, the Woven City will be used to run tests on autonomous vehicles for deliveries, transport and mobile shops, with the city's residents participating in the living laboratory experiment.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A City Tailor-Made for Self-Driving Cars? Toyota Is Building One |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-26/a-city-tailor-made-for-self-driving-cars-toyota-is-building-one |access-date=June 14, 2021 |newspaper=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|date=April 26, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Poon |first=Linda |title=Can Toyota Turn Its Utopian Ideal Into a 'Real City'? |newspaper=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] |date=January 24, 2020 |url=https://www.citylab.com/life/2020/01/toyota-woven-city-smart-technology-cities-of-the-future/604741/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128122351/https://www.citylab.com/life/2020/01/toyota-woven-city-smart-technology-cities-of-the-future/604741/ |archive-date=January 28, 2020 |access-date=January 28, 2020 |publisher=City Lab}}</ref>