Although many automakers have switched to electric vehicles in an effort to reduce carbon emissions, these Toyotas aren’t ready to abandon their combustion engines.
Akio Toyoda (president of Toyota Motors) believes there should be other options than fossil fuels or electric vehicles.
“On top of that, the enemy is carbon, not internal combustion engines,”He stated. “We shouldn’t just focus on one option.”
“Based on various technologies that we have already used so far, I think there might be a way to make use of internal combustion engines for carbon neutrality and even develop it.”
During the COP 26 UN climate change summit, six major carmakers — including General Motors and Mercedes Benz — pledged to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in cars by 2040.
Toyota has 15 EV models in the pipeline by 2025. However, they have not joined that group.
The Japanese automaker instead is exploring hydrogen-powered vehicles.
It’s simple and safe for the environment. Hydrogen fuel reacts with oxygen in air to create enough energy to propel the car. Water is the only byproduct. It comes out of the vehicle’s back.
Hydrogen-filling stations, however, are uncommon and not many auto manufacturers have yet adopted the hydrogen fuel combustion engines.
Toyota owns over 5,000 patents in hydrogen fuel cell technology. Toyota is giving them away royalty-free to other automakers to encourage the use of this alternative fuel.
It’s not about preserving the environment, but about competition.
