That is a very valid question. If Toyota is moving forward though... Why are they not rolling out the PiP nationwide? Why are their executive dismissive of plugin vehicles in favor of Hydrogen only? Why is their Lexus division buying adds that spread FUD about plugins?
An example of moving forward would be acknowledging the responses already provided to that question rather than just asking it again. Sorry, but making an effort to review those would be nicer than starting over again in this thread.
I think they lose a lot of money with it. Remember the prototypes were reported to cost ~$40k. Next gen should change that. Toyota execs are not totally into BEV due to the carbon footprint of manufacturing large battery packs and the grid carbon intensity. Their focus now is to launch FCV supposedly under Lexus brand. European Lexus hybrid ads were against BEV, not "plugins" because they point out the shortcomings of BEV. Since FCV doesn't have BEV shortcomings, their ads direction make sense. When the production version of NS4 dedicated plugin hybrid launch, I am sure they'll promote that as well. Will that be seen as anti hydrogen? Of course not. They are embracing both. Only the EV bias cry babies are whining.
...aside from the inductive charging, there was also a prior article saying the next PiP would have at least 10-miles all EV vs. current PiP's 6-miles for some reason related to CARB requirements. Toyota to Launch 'New Era' of High-MPG Hybrids, Expand Its Global Hybrid Rollout | Toyota
IIRC- The current EPA cycle causes the PIP's ICE to come on once it hits/exceeds 62mph which is at the 6mi point in the EPA simulation. So, the true EV only range for the PIP on that particular EPA test is 6mi. It's very misleading and a lot of PIP detractors like to quote that "6 mi EV range" when disparaging the PIP.
Yep, it's basically a technicality. The EPA tests are much better than they used to be, but in regards to plugin hybrids they have a lot of improvement to go.
PHEVs appear to be be part of a broad strategy that includes BEVs at the shortest ranges and FCEVs at the longest ranges. Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Site The ultimate eco-car
...yes it's a technical thing, there was a prior thread (cannot find it yet) where a PiP critic was blasting Toyota for only going to 10 EV miles in the next PiP version, and I pointed out it was 10/6 or 65% improvement over current PiP.
Please reference post #269 here: It's official Toyota is full speed fuel cells for compliance after 2014 | Page 14 | PriusChat Wow - The FC lobby truly needs to ad the 'cry-babies' mantra to their repertoire .... so when/if folks expose truth-twisting / dishonesty in advertising that's meant to hawk FC's .... the proponents of the dishonesty simply have to poo poo the dishonesty as simply coming from 'cry-babies'. Brilliant !! Gee ... I better not point out the absurdity of the claim above, "FCV doesn't have BEV shortcomings" as another half truth/dishonesty ... or I'll be thrown into the "cry babies" pot.
