In a significant move towards cleaner transportation, Toyota Motor showcased next-generation engines on Tuesday that can be utilized in various types of vehicles, including hybrids and those running on biofuel. This initiative targets stricter emissions standards and reinforces Toyota’s strategy of offering a diverse range of powertrains beyond electric vehicles (EVs).
Revolutionary Engine Designs
At a media event alongside Subaru and Mazda Motor, Toyota, the world’s largest automaker by volume, unveiled in-development 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter engines. These new engines feature significantly reduced volume and height compared to current models.
“With these engines, each of the three companies will aim to optimize integration with motors, batteries, and other electric drive units,” stated the joint announcement. Toyota holds approximately a fifth of Subaru and about 5% of Mazda.
Decarbonizing Internal Combustion Engines
The three automakers are focused on decarbonizing internal combustion engines by making them compatible with alternative fuel sources such as e-fuels and biofuels. The smaller size of these engines is also expected to transform vehicle design, enabling lower hoods and more aerodynamic profiles.
Toyota’s Strategic Shift
Despite being perceived as an EV laggard, Toyota has benefitted from the increased adoption of petrol-electric hybrids amidst a slowdown in EV growth. The refreshing of its traditional engine technology mirrors similar strategies by other automakers like Mercedes-Benz, while companies like BYD are also advancing hybrid technologies.
Technical Improvements and Market Readiness
Toyota’s new 1.5-liter engine aims for a 10% reduction in volume and weight compared to its existing 1.5-liter engines used in models like the Yaris compact car. The new 2.0-liter turbo engine will offer similar improvements over the current 2.4-liter turbo engines found in larger vehicles, such as three-row sport utility vehicles.
However, Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima did not specify when these new engines would be available in production models.
Navigating Tougher Emission Standards
Automakers are under pressure from tougher emissions standards in regions like the European Union, which is working towards implementing “Euro 7” emissions rules by 2030 and banning the sale of new CO2-emitting cars from 2035.
A Multi-Pathway Approach to Carbon Neutrality
While the prominence of electric vehicles has surged in recent years, Toyota continues to pursue a “multi-pathway” approach to achieving carbon neutrality, offering a variety of powertrains. In the January-March period, Toyota sold approximately 2.4 million vehicles, with nearly two-fifths being petrol-electric hybrids. Plug-in hybrids, fuel-cell vehicles, and all-battery electric vehicles together constituted just 2.9% of sales.
In January, Chairman Akio Toyoda projected that EVs would capture at most 30% of the global auto market, with hybrids, hydrogen fuel-cell, and traditional fuel-burning vehicles comprising the remainder.