Lauded for its traditionally efficient yet unexciting image, at least by us, Toyota has always had the potential to embark on more interesting endeavours. However, the company has consistently chosen the path of being BORING! Boring is efficient, boring is cost-effective, and boring is good. Nevertheless, Toyota decided to shed its penchant for the mundane at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. Toyota has unveiled the Land Cruiser EV concept and an EV Concept Pickup truck, both showcasing a sleek and edgy design language. These models provide a glimpse into the company’s next-generation EVs, scheduled to arrive in 2026 and beyond.
Privately and historically, Toyota doesn’t have much enthusiasm for electric vehicles; instead, the company has consistently favoured hydrogen as a solution for the “future of mobility”. Toyota’s enthusiasm for hydrogen fuel cars is closely linked to the Japanese government’s commitment to advancing a national hydrogen infrastructure. Aligning with such a doctrine brings with it hundreds of millions of dollars in government subsidies.
Publicly, Toyota’s foray into electric cars is driven by profit motives rather than a commitment to advancing climate change mandates. For Toyota, publicly addressing climate change with a new generation of EVs is a strategic response to appeal to the conscience of a discerning and evolving consumer base. The Land Cruiser EV Concept serves as a tangible representation of Toyota’s current push-me-pull-you approach.
Toyota asserts that the Land Cruiser EV concept boasts a range of 621 miles, a claim deemed implausible unless employing a 200kWh battery. However, the sheer physics of carrying such a heavy battery pack makes it an inefficient range nightmare. Toyota states it will rely on energy-dense lithium-ion technology to meet its range targets. In reality, Toyota lags at least a decade behind Tesla and Chinese EV companies, signifying a substantial gap it must bridge to catch up.
Stylistically the Land Cruiser EV and Pick Up Concept look fantastic, but is it too little too late?
