This OEM Cares More About Consumer Demand Than EPA Fines

The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

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Happy first week of the month (and happy birthday to our very own Paul Daly). Today, we’re covering Toyota’s concern over consumer demand, the fastest EV charger ever and robotaxis rolling on.

Show Notes with links:

• Toyota continues to project a measured future for BEVs, with North America CEO Ted Ogawa estimating they'll constitute just 30% of U.S. sales by 2030, diverging from more ambitious EPA targets.
  • "I know that EPA is now reconsidering what the regulation level should be,” said Ogawa in an exclusive Automotive News interview. “However.. our starting point is what the customer demand should be… We are respecting the regulation, but more important is customer demand."
  • The EPA’s light vehicle standards as proposed require 54-60% BEV penetration by 2030. Current analysis doesn’t include PHEVs, but the agency plans to include it in the final rule.
  • 2024 is the starting year for Toyota’s “multi-path” strategy, offering different levels of electrification in America, with Ogawa calling the shift “one of my challenges this year.”
  • Toyota plans to use credit purchases to comply with regulations, while prioritizing investment in EVs and hybrids, including a $13.9 billion battery complex in Liberty, N.C.
  • "Wasted investment is worse than the credit purchase," said Ogawa.

• Gravity Mobility, backed by Google, has launched the fastest public EV charging solution in the U.S.
  • The startup has introduced 24 chargers in New York, currently only open to fleet operators. The chargers have a 500 kW capacity, capable of charging 200 miles in 5 minutes, equating to 2,400 miles of range per hour.
  • The company's chargers are the size of a carry-on suitcase and Gravity plans to manufacture and deploy thousands of chargers annually, with further sites in development beyond their initial Midtown Manhattan location.
  • Most EVs currently have a charging speed cap of 350 kW, but future models are expected to support faster charging capabilities.
  • Competitor ChargePoint announced a product capable of 500 kW charging for two vehicles simultaneously, while Tesla Superchargers offer up to 250 kW.
• The self-driving robotaxi is not dead yet as Waymo has received approval to operate its vehicles up to 65mph on highways in parts of Los Angeles and the Bay Area, following a California regulator's decision.
  • The company plans a "careful and incremental" expansion without immediate highway service plans, amid safety concerns and high-profile crashes involving autonomous vehicles.
  • The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved Waymo's expansion, dismissing requests for evidentiary hearings and citing continuous technology and safety improvements.

Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
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