Objectively, Toyota's first EV isn't really that different to VW group's or the various offerings from Stellantis. It was also only about a year or so later, probably because Toyota spent longer testing it first.
I'd take a punt that in 8-10 years time though an ageing BZ4X will be more reliable and have more life left in its battery than a similarly aged ID3 or Mokka-E.
Also, because Toyota already had hybrids as most of their range, commercially they didn't need to rush out EVs (or badly implemented plug in hybrids) just to keep their average CO2 emissions within the government / EU limits.
Quite right. many of the others react to political changes; Toyota make decisions based on real world data (though taking into account current and future laws).
Their foray into hydrogen fuel cell tech will still prove useful because those cars are still EVs - just powered by fuel cells rather than traditional batteries. The main difference is where the tech goes in the car - the drivetrain should be quite similar to EVs.
I imagine it must've cost most other makes a lot of money to R&D so many EVs in such a short space of time - like with Dieselgate, you have to wonder what corners they have cut or 'other things' they've done (e.g. artificially raised prices of ICE cars to fund it by making more of the 'chip shortage' and general inflationary pressures than is really the case) in order to 'prove their fealty' to the green gods in positions of political power.
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