Following its guiding principles of "Mobility for All" and Leaving No One Behind, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. today announced "Empact," a new vision to support the transition of underserved communities towards a future of electrified mobility. The name Empact comes from the combination of "environmental impact" and focuses on the company's moves towards carbon neutrality. Also of "empowering action" (empowerment action), which represents the efforts that Toyota is making in order to design a more equitable and inclusive deployment strategy within underserved communities. The strategy focuses on three fundamental areas: access to top-ups,

"Our vision will guide us as we work with state and local officials to identify communities where Empact could help address issues around EV charging access and affordability," said Christopher Reynolds, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Corporate Toyota Motor North America Resources. "By offering EV charging solutions, consumers will be able to make choices that will not only have a positive impact on the environment, but also accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles."

In terms of addressing access to charging, Toyota will work with partners and cities seeking to identify ideal locations for the implementation of charging stations to serve customers more efficiently. Initially, the target locations will include places without off-street or private parking, which includes the most densely populated areas of multi-family housing.

On affordability, Toyota will explore how to make public charging more cost-effective, in order to enable greater adoption of battery electric vehicles. Today, fast DC charging can be up to three times more expensive than charging at home, disproportionately impacting those who rely on public charging. Toyota will also continue to provide a portfolio of electric vehicle options as part of the "Beyond Zero" vision, including four hybrid electric vehicles starting at $31,000., two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and the all-electric Toyota bZ4X. Lexus also offers eight electric vehicle options, such as the all-electric RZ 450e. Toyota's KINTO mobility solution explores how to support this effort by improving access to zero-emission rental vehicles for business or personal use, allowing more drivers to benefit from battery electric vehicles without incurring the expense of ownership vehicle.

Toyota's third area will focus on reducing emissions associated with vehicle charging, which helps improve air quality for all citizens, especially residents in underserved communities who often face a disproportionate share of charging. . The company has already started working with WattTime , a nonprofit organization that recommends times to recharge batteries and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles when charging from the grid is predicted to have lower carbon emissions or may have less potential long-term impact. term on the health of people living near power plants. In addition, the voluntary Clean Assist program™ by Toyota allows customers in the United States who have an active trial or paid subscription to Remote Connect and a Toyota or Lexus BEV in general, or a Toyota or Lexus PHEV in California , to get 100% of their recharge be associated with renewable electricity.

Toyota will advance the implementation of its Empact vision on a project-by-project basis. The first programs will be announced later this year.

Toyota's electrification efforts have brought more than 22 million electric models on the road, more than all other automakers combined. By 2030, Toyota will invest more than $70 billion globally in vehicle electrification, including up to $35 billion in battery electric vehicles. In the United States, Toyota currently offers 14 electric vehicles, including the battery electric bZ4X, the fuel cell electric Mirai, and the Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The Lexus brand currently offers eight electric models, including the all-electric RZ 450e, as well as the NX plug-in electric hybrid and the upcoming RX PHEV.

 

Source:prnewswire.com

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