As legacy automakers brace themselves for the inevitable onset of sustainable transportation, many auto companies are resisting changes to the current industry – and likely to their own detriments.
Thursday, Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s President, said that electric vehicles (EVs) are overhyped, including that Japan would run out of electricity in the same summer if every car were to run on electric power, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. In addition, Toyoda cited the costs of installing a whole country’s worth of electric charging infrastructure as a major deterrent, saying that it could cost between ¥14 trillion ($135 billion USD) and ¥37 trillion ($358 billion USD).
Toyoda said, “When politicians are out there saying, ‘Let’s get rid of all cars using gasoline,’ do they understand this?” He continued, “The current business model of the car industry is going to collapse.”
Toyota President Akio Toyoda said Japan would run out of electricity in the summer if all cars were running on electric power.
https://t.co/8CIqv3Vm2P— M.R. Binnion (@mrbinnion) December 18, 2020
Toyoda includes the fact that industry-wide collapse would also result in the loss of millions of jobs.
While Toyoda brings up some valuable criticisms, it’s a surprise to hear anyone in the auto industry talking negatively about EVs, let alone someone from Toyota, which just released plans for a 2021 electric SUV.
Toyota’s doubts almost resemble BlackBerry doubting Apple’s iPhone back in 2007 when it first came out. The electric car is the new smartphone nowadays and Tesla is leading the charge.
In any case, authorities will need to re-evaluate charging network and electrical grid needs in order to prepare for all new cars sold to be electric. While it will take a significant upfront investment, the resulting drop in emissions levels is a feat well-worth pouring money into, especially if it allows humans to exist on planet Earth for just a little bit longer.
