Freds430

Lexus

This week, at a Lexus Milestones event held to celebrate 30 years of the Lexus brand, the Japanese luxury automaker gave a preview of its future. This included Lexus' plans for upcoming autonomous driving technologies and expanding the number of electrified vehicles and powertrains throughout its entire lineup.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Executive Vice President of Lexus International Koji Sato said, "Between Toyota and Lexus, we plan to roll out 10 EVs by 2025. At the same time, every Lexus model on the road will be available as a dedicated electrified model or have an electrified option."

In this case "electrified" includes a combination of self-contained hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, all of which are on the table as options for future Lexus models. Ultimately, which technology is chosen for a particular vehicle will depend on the market in which that vehicle is sold and the needs of the vehicle and drivers in question.

"There is not one powerplant that will work for the globe. The reality is that different legality and social conditions have created a landscape where automakers must offer a variety of choices," Sato said. "We will chose for each model based on the demand or background of the market."

Depending on the market and the model, "electrified" might mean hybrid, battery or even fuel cell-powered vehicles.

ToyotaWhen asked about fuel cell vehicles, Sato said that "from a technology point of view" the automaker is "very serious about FCEVs," but is carefully consider the rollout of hydrogen depending on the local infrastructure conditions. So, in the US at least, that landscape will likely be populated by more hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles.

"A proven history mastering battery management, reduced mass components and electric motors offers an advantage that will help us create a dedicated pure EV platform that speaks to the next generation of luxury consumers that do not want to make compromises for performance, excitement, range or capability," he said.

The automaker is already well on its way toward achieving its goal of a fully electrified lineup. Of the 11 models in its portfolio, only five aren't currently available as hybrids. The IS, RC and GS make sense to hybridize; the GS, in particular, was offered with a hybrid powertrain previously. Speaking candidly with a Lexus representative later in the day, I learned that the GX and LX -- Lexus' two largest SUVs -- are tricky because customers expect a different level of off-road and towing capability from a vehicle in this class and the automaker needs to make sure that it meets those expectations with whatever electrification route it takes.

Lexus is off to a pretty good start. More than half of its current lineup is offered in hybrid trim.

Lexus Fortunately, Lexus' hybrid technology is continuing to evolve. The new LC400h halo car, for example, features a trick new transmission technology that aims to make hybrid driving more engaging. The automaker is also developing new battery and electric motor technologies, including in-wheel electric motors. Sato explains, "We expect that four wheels operating independently will offer a greater agility, stability and excitement. Of course, in-wheel electric motors are just a concept currently and it will take years to make the technology perfect. But we will continue to pursue this exciting opportunity."

We should learn more about what the future of Lexus electrification will look like at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show later this year, where the automaker plans to unveils a new electric concept car. I got an early peek -- which I sadly can't share just yet -- and it looks… well, intense. Stay tuned.

peteharvey

TMC is so far behind on EV's - thus they must start from the bottom with this - and then work their way up.
I don't like the size, but I like the styling cues.
If mid-life refreshed 5.5LS had styling cues like this, 5.5LS will sell like hot cakes IMO....

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

so i wonder how many BEVs they will have by 2025... my guess is 1 or maybe 2.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

1 BEV is very likely by 2025. But this thread title is misleading. This news came out in 2018 that all Lexus's would by 'electrified' by 2025 meaning at a minimum a hybrid.

Freds430

When Sato states "Between Toyota and Lexus, we plan to roll out 10 EVs by 2025" he is talking full electric vehicles. Toyota/Lexus already has 14 hybrid models.

peteharvey

It takes time to develop batteries, motors and to a lesser extent supercharger networks.
Tesla started with the roadster over 10 years ago.

Even if TMC develops EV much faster through a much bigger team, it still takes some time.
Hence they start from the bottom with their mini EV, plus the 2nd gen CT EV and the UX EV - and then work their way up to bigger battery packs, and bigger more powerful electric motors.
I wouldn't be surprized if 5GS resurfaced available in EV.

Eventually, I suspect supercharger stations will be taken over by 3rd parties as current gas stations adopt supercharging ports, so probably little need for TMC to develop their own supercharger network.

It's just like the 1st dSLR Nikon D1 back in 1999; itchy fingers and pull the trigger now, and be prepared to be overtaken later by vastly superior and cheaper evolutions.


Tesla obviously has a head start.
However, with all their trouble, Tesla is on shaky ground and Tesla does not have a convincing victory, but Tesla also does not have a convincing loss either - so it remains to be seen regarding the future of Tesla.
Presently, Tesla is neither the success of Apple, but nor is Tesla a failure like Kodak.
People who think the God of Tesla are wrong, but people who think the doomsday of Tesla are also wrong.

Meanwhile, established competitors like Toyota Motor Corp trot along to join the EV bandwagon.

Back in 1999, it was Nikon who released the world's first dSLR.
However, 4 years later in 2003, it was Canon who released the world's first "volume selling" dSLR in the Canon EOS 300D.
Canon later went on to become the most prolific seller of digital cameras.
Canon sold more digital cameras than all its competitors combined!
Canon also made more profit than all its competitors added together!!

Meanwhile, Sony had been making digital sensors since the 1970's for its movie cameras like Betacam and VHS camcorders.
Sony tried to shortcut the dSLR world by purchasing Konica-Minolta, however this plot just didn't work.
It is only with the new "mirrorless" cameras where Sony is beginning to reign supreme, but competitors like Nikon and Canon are fighting back.
It remains to be seen who will reign the next generation of digital cameras.

Presently, still plenty of opportunities for Toyota Motor Corp to reign.

It's up to Tesla to get their act together, while the established marques like Lexus must get their EV acts together.
Meanwhile, I'll keep sitting on the fence.

EV is here to stay, but who will rule the next generation of motor vehicles? God only knows what will happen....
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LeX2K

Every car is electrified if you count the 12volt battery.

All4Lexus

EV is half the puzzle here.
The other half is making the car 'smarter' or more self aware.

I think the real story of the 2020 decade is how cars become smart (high value added benefit to driver) than EV savings in MPG and added torque boost and hp.

Tesla began with an EV vision. It would fail if the car was dumb as a Volt/Bolt/Prius. Now, it is a smart car with the added upside of EV and autopilot options. Everything is simpler in full vehicle design to optimize EV's potential and it's self-aware capabilities. Buyers have noticed it is different.

If most cars offer a hybrid option, it wont really matter if hybrid is more expensive than a gas only version. Buyers may fear that hybrids could cost more to maintain. The companies who gain traction in making their vehicles smart are well positioned to excel in both hybrid and full EV solutions. It means they have figured out the 'software' issues which drives the car as a whole unit, and fully grasp how power is drained or reclaimed for use.

UDel

Despite the fact that there is almost no market, demand, or interest for EV's in the US aside from Tesla and charging infrastructure is still extremely lacking.

How did the CT and HS work out? How have the GSh, LSh, and LCh worked out? Nobody bought/buys them.

All4Lexus

Great observation!! Tesla will be the first 1 million EV's and the first to 10 million EV's within 10 years (and 4-6 gigafactories running by then).

It's like the iphone coming out in 2007. There was no real competing alternative for several years. Eventually Android came around to emerge as an alternative due to the 'heavyweight' status of Google. Now when you scale up this product to 4 wheels and all the regulations on top of it for a functioning vehicle -- no wonder there is zero competition to tesla's infrastructure and how they churned out a 'smart' car.

Who's going to be the auto industry heavy weight to mimic the role what Google did in forming an Apple iPhone smartphone alternative. ICE industry has to disengage the conventional rules of business of how cars are made. Instead of 3 cooling systems, they could simplify greatly like Tesla has done with the 'superbottle'. It's far easier to stick to old fashioned ways of business for a depreciating asset. The pull to make Tesla cars is very real in China, and duplicate this success elsewhere -- fresh from the ground up and no need to re-tool an existing factory.

Who in the auto industry has over 75 billion in cash? Which companies outside of the auto biz has over $75 billion cash? The list is a very small one who can emerge as a real alternative. We may get lucky to have more than 2-3 real EV alternatives to Telsa (or 4-5 companies doing this stuff) within 20 years. As you can see, it's a real thing that certain market sectors and people who do not want Tesla to succeed ginormously.

Facebook was really smart to recognize that their product is the 'people' using the app, and eventually got around to monetizing things. Tesla is taking a similar tack that they want "people who have transportation needs" to use their products. The car/suv/truck/semi can be of service to them. Even amazon & microsoft has a similar tack, that they want companies with IT infrastructure needs to use their products to grow and scale up.

The common denominator is how it took many years to get established, and now they are indispensable part of future lifestyle. Want a car/truck/vehicle? get it within 15-30 minutes of when you need it with no ownership/maintenance/insurance/depreciation issues that go along with it.

Such an undertaking needs Tesla to think how they can be part of the lifestyle equation we live in day to day and maximizing the 'life' of any vehicle made (build body infrastructure once, with capability replaceable/up-gradable components). So much $$ is spent on conventional vehicles that have a finite 'engine' life. Buyers are stuck in the depreciating asset trap and end up forking over close to a half million dollars in vehicle expenses in their lifetime. And we all know here how much Lexus loves their loyal and lifetime owners. For Lexus, or any auto company, they have a challenge to consider in how to get loyal customers back. High maintenance bank account draining cars are not the answer. Lexus earns marks for high quality and reliable cars over their competitors (who may prefer replacing your vehicle as frequently as 24-36 months). Nobody really has an answer for the kind of market churn that will take place in the next 3-5 years and how changing climate/regulations/clean air requirements will impact them. Things will get very interesting and get your popcorn ready!

peteharvey

But they're buying the Tesla Models S, X and 3!

In fact, last year, the Model 3 @ 139,000+ units - overtook the Lexus RX @ 111,000+ units - to become America's new biggest selling luxury motor vehicle - albeit by a long shot too!

EV is a very expensive business, such that Tesla has had years of losses, unlike the immediate success of iPhone and iPad.
If Tesla sold their motor vehicles at the correct price in order to post profits, then Models S, X and 3 simply would NOT be able to achieve the volume they are achieving today.
Thus, Musk has had to sell his cars at relatively very low price, hence losses - in order to achieve fantastic volume.

Hence, Tesla is not the immediate success of Apple, but Tesla is also not the long term failure of Kodak either.

I wish people would stop incorrectly jumping to conclusions and making Tesla out to be good or bad; presently they are neither.
We have posters like EZZ & Lexus2000 who are insecure & constantly feel the need to justify their purchases, but we also have the likes of Udel etc who are unrealistic regarding electrificiation, just like the naysayers who fought for Kodak and against digital cameras 20 years ago.

In truth, electrification is definitely here, but only time can tell what will actually happen to Tesla and the established marques....
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