Really interesting look at automotive production and supply chains. I've been following the electrification of the auto industry intently and Toyota has been frustrating in the extent to which...
Really interesting look at automotive production and supply chains. I've been following the electrification of the auto industry intently and Toyota has been frustrating in the extent to which they seem to have held out, despite leading the charge with the Prius. They've been advocating for a very slow transition for fully electric vehicles and their rationale has largely been that it would be crazy expensive, and worse for the environment, for them to have to retool and change up all their supply chains and logistics for a rapid transition. Reading this article I can start to believe it. The scale of this is mind-boggling.
It's still pretty weird that Toyota doesn't at least have a moon-shot full EV. They have a in production, complete hydrogen powered car you can buy but not one that runs on a big battery? I do...
It's still pretty weird that Toyota doesn't at least have a moon-shot full EV. They have a in production, complete hydrogen powered car you can buy but not one that runs on a big battery?
I do think it makes sense in general for the Japanese automakers to be slower. Making EVs requires huge investments. In general, for better or for worse, US companies are more willing to YOLO on huge bets on the future.
I think Japanese business culture is still a little bit shell-shocked from the "Lost Decade" and averse to big, unproven speculative investments. That probably explains some of the reticence....
I think Japanese business culture is still a little bit shell-shocked from the "Lost Decade" and averse to big, unproven speculative investments. That probably explains some of the reticence. Investments in hydrogen are genuinely puzzling to me though. I think there are some engineering reasons why it might be more practical for fleet vehicles and, like, transit. But I'm not sure economies of scale will permit more than 1 technology to prevail like that.
On the other hand, we did have a whole parallel supply chain for diesel all this time so maybe it is possible.
Really interesting look at automotive production and supply chains. I've been following the electrification of the auto industry intently and Toyota has been frustrating in the extent to which they seem to have held out, despite leading the charge with the Prius. They've been advocating for a very slow transition for fully electric vehicles and their rationale has largely been that it would be crazy expensive, and worse for the environment, for them to have to retool and change up all their supply chains and logistics for a rapid transition. Reading this article I can start to believe it. The scale of this is mind-boggling.
It's still pretty weird that Toyota doesn't at least have a moon-shot full EV. They have a in production, complete hydrogen powered car you can buy but not one that runs on a big battery?
I do think it makes sense in general for the Japanese automakers to be slower. Making EVs requires huge investments. In general, for better or for worse, US companies are more willing to YOLO on huge bets on the future.
I think Japanese business culture is still a little bit shell-shocked from the "Lost Decade" and averse to big, unproven speculative investments. That probably explains some of the reticence. Investments in hydrogen are genuinely puzzling to me though. I think there are some engineering reasons why it might be more practical for fleet vehicles and, like, transit. But I'm not sure economies of scale will permit more than 1 technology to prevail like that.
On the other hand, we did have a whole parallel supply chain for diesel all this time so maybe it is possible.