- Vision to address equity includes considerations for charging
access, affordability, and carbon emission reduction
- Part of Toyota's broader "Mobility for All" efforts, which aim
to leave no one behind in transition to a future of electrified
vehicles
- Plans to announce first projects later this year
PLANO,
Texas, April 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following
its guiding principles of "Mobility for All" and leaving no one
behind, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (Toyota) today announced
"Empact," a new vision to aid the transition of underserved
communities to a future of electrified mobility. Empact is based on
the combination of "environmental impact," focusing on the
company's movements towards carbon neutrality, and "empowering
action," which represents the efforts Toyota is making to design a
more equitable and inclusive deployment strategy within underserved
communities. The strategy centers on three fundamental areas:
access to charging, providing affordable mobility solutions, and
reducing carbon emissions.
"Our vision will be our guide as we work with local and state
officials to identify communities where Empact might help address
issues related to EV charging access and affordability," said
Christopher Reynolds, executive vice
president and chief administrative officer, Corporate Resources,
Toyota Motor North America. "Providing EV charging solutions will
empower consumers to make decisions that will not only have a
positive impact on the environment but accelerate the adoption of
electrified vehicles as well."
To address access to charging, Toyota will work with partners
and cities to identify ideal locations for charging station
deployment to serve customers more efficiently. Initially, targeted
locations will include places without off-street or private
parking, including areas of higher population density in
multi-family housing.
For affordability, Toyota will explore how to enable more
cost-effective public charging to allow for greater adoption of
battery electric vehicles. Today, DC fast charging can be up to
nearly three times more expensive than home charging, which
disproportionately burdens those who rely on public charging.
Toyota will also continue providing a portfolio of electrified
vehicle options as part of the "Beyond Zero" vision, including four
hybrid electric vehicles starting under $31,000, two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles,
and the all-electric Toyota bZ4X. Lexus also provides eight
electrified vehicle options, including the all-electric RZ 450e.
Toyota's KINTO mobility solution is exploring how to support this
endeavor by improving access to zero-emission rental vehicles for
business or personal use, allowing more drivers to benefit from
battery electric vehicles without the expense of vehicle
ownership.
The third area Toyota will focus on is reducing emissions
associated with vehicle charging, helping to improve air quality
for all citizens but especially those in underserved communities
who often face a disproportionate share of the burden. The company
has already started working with WattTime, a nonprofit organization
that recommends times to charge battery and plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles when charging from the grid is forecasted to have lower
carbon emissions or is likely to have a lower potential health
impact over the long term to people who live near power plants.
Additionally, Toyota's Clean Assist™ opt-in program allows U.S.
customers with an active Remote Connect trial or subscription and a
Toyota or Lexus BEV, or Toyota or Lexus PHEV in California, to get 100 percent of their charge
matched with renewable electricity.
Toyota will advance the implementation of its Empact vision on a
per-project basis, with the first programs being announced later
this year.
Toyota's electrification efforts have put more than 22 million
electrified models on the road – more than all other automakers
combined. Through 2030, Toyota will invest more than $70 billion globally in vehicle electrification
including up to $35 billion in
battery electric vehicles. In the U.S., Toyota currently offers 14
electrified vehicles, including the battery electric bZ4X, fuel
cell electric Mirai, and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles Prius
Prime and RAV4 Prime. The Lexus brand currently offers 8
electrified models, including the all-electric RZ 450e as well as
the plug-in hybrid electrics NX and forthcoming RX PHEV.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) has been a part of the
cultural fabric in North America
for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable,
next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus
our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the
design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and
trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th plant
in North Carolina will begin to
manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With
more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker,
Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit
www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
For Toyota customer inquiries, please call
800-331-4331.
Toyota Media Contact:
Josh Burns
Joshua.Burns@Toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America