Toyota Challenges Electric Race and Claims Electric Cars Can Pollute Up to Three Times More Than Hybrids in Countries Dependent on Thermoelectric Plants

Written by Felipe Alves da Silva

Published on 13/06/2025 at 09:51

Updated on 13/06/2025 at 11:38

Akio Toyoda durante apresentação técnica sobre impacto ambiental de veículos híbridos e elétricos

3 people reacted to this.

The President of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, declared that electric vehicles can emit up to three times more carbon than hybrid models in countries that use electricity generated from fossil fuels, such as Japan. This statement was made during a series of automaker events in June 2025, highlighting the company’s strategy regarding sustainable mobility. According to Toyoda, the accelerated transition to 100% electric vehicles could jeopardize jobs and may not guarantee a significant reduction in global emissions.

Toyoda emphasized that Toyota has sold approximately 27 million hybrid vehicles since 1997, which would have avoided emissions equivalent to those of 9 million electric cars in continuous use. The executive pointed out that the real environmental impact of electric vehicles directly depends on the energy matrix of each country and that, in places where electricity is still predominantly generated by thermal power plants, the benefits may be negated.

In the case of Japan, for example, the high dependence on coal and natural gas for electricity generation would compromise the environmental gains of an exclusively electric fleet.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Relies on Multiple Solutions

In his speech, Toyoda reiterated that Toyota’s fight is against carbon, not against a specific technology. The company advocates for the coexistence of different solutions, including hybrids, hydrogen vehicles, synthetic fuels, and fully electric models, adapting to the energy and infrastructural realities of each market.

The new Toyota Aygo X, presented as the first fully hybrid city car from the automaker, symbolizes this philosophy. Compact and efficient, the urban model was designed to offer low emissions without relying on electric charging, making it ideal for cities with limited charging infrastructure.

Akio Toyoda presents Toyota's hybrid and electric vehicles during an event in 2025 — Toyota Aygo X 2025, the first full hybrid city car from the brand, combines energy efficiency with modern urban design.

Toyoda also highlighted that the hybrid approach preserves existing supply chains, reducing the risk of mass unemployment. According to the executive, forcing a sudden end to internal combustion engines could destabilize entire industries and economies, especially in developing countries.

Toyota Remains Global Leader Despite Criticism of Its Electric Pace

Toyota’s conservative stance on total electrification has received criticism over the years, with analysts predicting a loss of relevance for the automaker against competitors that have bet everything on electric vehicles. However, the numbers demonstrate the opposite: in 2024, Toyota was once again the largest automobile manufacturer in the world for the fifth consecutive year.

The company continues to expand its range of electrified vehicles, such as the bZ4X and C-HR+ models, while maintaining a strong presence with hybrids and combustion. Additionally, the luxury division Lexus has introduced new electric vehicles like the ES sedan and the RZ SUV, targeting premium segments of the global market.

Meanwhile, Toyota continues to make strategic investments in alternative technologies, such as hydrogen propulsion. The Mirai brand, while not achieving significant commercial success, is still being developed and now serves as the basis for a collaboration with BMW on a new hydrogen car expected for 2028.

Official Statements

Akio Toyoda’s statements were widely reported by international automotive portals, such as it.motor1, which published a detailed analysis of the automaker’s position in June 2025. According to the article, the president of Toyota reinforces that carbon neutrality must be achieved with pragmatism and realistic actions, not just with idealistic goals.

The publication also highlighted Toyota’s consistency over the years in its strategy of not committing exclusively to a single technological solution, even in the face of market pressures and public policies from various countries.

Rather than betting all its chips on BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles), Toyota seems to prefer a gradual approach that combines multiple propulsion alternatives with a focus on long-term viability and effective emission reductions.

Toyota Challenges Electric Race and Claims Electric Cars Can Pollute Up to Three Times More Than Hybrids in Countries Dependent on Thermoelectric Plants

Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Relies on Multiple Solutions

Toyota Remains Global Leader Despite Criticism of Its Electric Pace

Official Statements

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

A Chinese factory in Guangdong is assembling a humanoid robot every 30 minutes while Tesla, Figure, and Boston Dynamics still struggle to deliver 10 thousand per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

Secret chamber sealed 4,500 years ago found in the Pyramid of Khufu, and Hawass announces its opening to the world in 2026

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

Germany installed vertical solar panels on a lake in Bavaria, and the result broke conventional logic: instead of producing energy at midday peak, the plant generates more early in the morning and in the evening, exactly when families turn on appliances and factories are in full swing.

While communities suffer from water scarcity and the advancing desert, women in Morocco use nets high up in the mountains to trap fog droplets, fill reservoirs, and transport drinking water through more than 10 km of piping.

Chinese boats accelerate the collapse of fishing in Senegal, cause an annual loss of US$ 300 million, affect 1.3 million people, and help transform West Africa into the epicenter of 40% of the planet’s illegal trawling.

Super airplane Phantom 3500 advances towards its first flight, promising 60% lower fuel consumption, a windowless cabin, operation above 51,000 feet, technology validated by DARPA, and a billion-dollar order of 300 jets before certification.

With an updated oil-bathed belt, the 2026 Chevrolet Onix and Onix Plus arrive with discounts of up to R$ 23,000, fuel consumption of up to 19.7 km/l, a range of 866 km, a 115 hp turbo engine, and a 5-year warranty.

Switzerland dug a hole the size of two football fields to install the most powerful underground battery on the planet, capable of releasing 1.2 GW in milliseconds, storing 2.1 GWh, and costing up to 5 billion Swiss francs.

Mega dam of 2.1 km will store 2.9 billion m³ of water and benefit 70 million people, while the government tries to reduce the impacts of water scarcity caused by disputes over the Padma River after decades of tension in Bangladesh.

Toyota Challenges Electric Race and Claims Electric Cars Can Pollute Up to Three Times More Than Hybrids in Countries Dependent on Thermoelectric Plants

Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Relies on Multiple Solutions

Toyota Remains Global Leader Despite Criticism of Its Electric Pace

Official Statements

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

A Chinese factory in Guangdong is assembling a humanoid robot every 30 minutes while Tesla, Figure, and Boston Dynamics still struggle to deliver 10 thousand per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

Secret chamber sealed 4,500 years ago found in the Pyramid of Khufu, and Hawass announces its opening to the world in 2026

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

Germany installed vertical solar panels on a lake in Bavaria, and the result broke conventional logic: instead of producing energy at midday peak, the plant generates more early in the morning and in the evening, exactly when families turn on appliances and factories are in full swing.

While communities suffer from water scarcity and the advancing desert, women in Morocco use nets high up in the mountains to trap fog droplets, fill reservoirs, and transport drinking water through more than 10 km of piping.

With an updated oil-bathed belt, the 2026 Chevrolet Onix and Onix Plus arrive with discounts of up to R$ 23,000, fuel consumption of up to 19.7 km/l, a range of 866 km, a 115 hp turbo engine, and a 5-year warranty.

Man transforms automotive engine into a functional nautical system, adapts cooling with external water, installs shaft, propeller, and anti-corrosion protection, and creates a low-cost handcrafted yacht capable of safely navigating using repurposed parts and a structure reinforced with fiberglass.

While electric cars die in four hours, the British Hydromax aims to be the fastest hydrogen car in the world with 1,600 hp and a target of 563 km/h.

Chinese SUV with three engines, 1,380 hp, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.96 seconds debuts with ultra-fast charging and promises up to 1,416 km of total range for long trips in high modern luxury.

Are diesel trucks numbered? Volvo says the new electric generation can already replace traditional models.

Chinese boats accelerate the collapse of fishing in Senegal, cause an annual loss of US$ 300 million, affect 1.3 million people, and help transform West Africa into the epicenter of 40% of the planet’s illegal trawling.

Super airplane Phantom 3500 advances towards its first flight, promising 60% lower fuel consumption, a windowless cabin, operation above 51,000 feet, technology validated by DARPA, and a billion-dollar order of 300 jets before certification.

With an updated oil-bathed belt, the 2026 Chevrolet Onix and Onix Plus arrive with discounts of up to R$ 23,000, fuel consumption of up to 19.7 km/l, a range of 866 km, a 115 hp turbo engine, and a 5-year warranty.

Switzerland dug a hole the size of two football fields to install the most powerful underground battery on the planet, capable of releasing 1.2 GW in milliseconds, storing 2.1 GWh, and costing up to 5 billion Swiss francs.

Mega dam of 2.1 km will store 2.9 billion m³ of water and benefit 70 million people, while the government tries to reduce the impacts of water scarcity caused by disputes over the Padma River after decades of tension in Bangladesh.