Better Late: Toyota now wants to build 1,000 km EVs

When it comes to electrification, Toyota is at the forefront in terms of hybrids (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). With their technical know-how ever since the first-generation Prius which first came out in 1997, Toyota, along with Lexus, has a wide offering of electrified vehicles. From the Corolla Cross to the RAV4, as well as the Lexus NX and LX, there's a hybrid vehicle available for every discerning customer.

Over to electric vehicles (EVs) however, and Toyota is struggling to keep up with other brands. While the automaker still believes in a future with the internal combustion engine, Toyota has been slow to catch up with the rest of the industry when it comes to electric vehicles. They do have the bZ4X and the Lexus RZ 450e as global EV models but they only offer a range of around 240 to 450 km. Other than that, other brands also have a wider selection of EVs.

Faced with the fact that other brands have more electric vehicles with better cruising ranges, Toyota wants to change all that with the BEV Factory – an organization dedicated to battery EVs that was just launched last May. Their ultimate goal is to change the future of BEVs through the transformation of cars, manufacturing, as well as in battery technologies.

One of the most important aspects of BEV Factory is to have an EV achieve a cruising range of 1,000 km. This will then be supported by aerodynamic performance with the aid of AI, and the option to have an EV with a manual transmission to deliver a more exciting driving experience.

When it comes to manufacturing, the car body of EVs will be constructed from three main components in a new modular structure. It will also adopt giga casting that will allow significant component integration which will contribute to the reduction of vehicle development costs and factory investment.

Toyota plans to roll out its next generation of battery EVs globally and as a full lineup that will be launched sometime in 2026. By 2030, 1.7 million units out of the 3.5 million overall vehicles will be provided by BEV Factory. The next generation of battery EVs will adopt new batteries, through which Toyota is determined to become a world leader in battery EV energy consumption.