The future of the automotive industry is written in the spirit of sustainability. In recent years, the spread of electric vehicles worldwide has accelerated, and many envision a total transition to purely electric propulsion. However, Toyota’s recent analysis paints a more nuanced picture: the path to “going green” through electric cars is not as straightforward as many might think.
Toyota experts emphasize that while the advantages of electric vehicles are indisputable in terms of local emissions, the situation is less clear when considering the entire life cycle – from raw material extraction to manufacturing and disposal. Battery production, the extraction, transport, and processing of rare earth elements, lithium, and cobalt are extremely energy-intensive and polluting processes. Only after this comes actual car production, and during operation, the environmental friendliness of the electricity used largely depends on the regional energy mix (coal, nuclear, renewables).
In contrast, the hybrids favored by Toyota have a much smaller ecological footprint during production, and these models already significantly reduce fuel consumption and local emissions in everyday traffic. According to the analysis, despite the urban advantages of electric vehicles, with current battery technology and supply chains, their global environmental impact is far from ideal.
Toyota also points out that the worldwide spread of electric vehicles would result in serious economic and social changes. Millions of jobs could be lost in the traditional automotive supply industry, while Europe and North America would become highly dependent on China for rare earths and battery materials.
The Japanese company does not deny the need for progress but stresses that hybrid technology remains a realistic, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative that reduces the environmental risks of motoring without demanding excessive social or economic sacrifices. Finally, citing its own experience – 27 million hybrids sold and a retained world leadership – Toyota signals that the “only electric cars” future is far less clear-cut than many think.