Toyota Electric Car: Price and Type

As one of the largest automotive companies in the world, Toyota doesn't want to be left behind in the electric vehicle “race” trend. Toyota's electric car is here to meet the needs of a market that is increasingly concerned about environmental issues by creating electric-powered cars.

The electric car itself is becoming a hot topic of discussion among the public, especially automotive lovers. Although not many, there are already a handful of electric cars marketed in the country.

The trend of electric cars is also predicted to develop in a positive direction in line with technological advances. Not surprisingly, an electric car from PT Toyota Astra Motor (Toyota) is also rumored to be coming soon in Indonesia.

Leaks about Toyota's electric car that will flood the Indonesian automotive industry have also circulated. Toyota is rumored to be bringing in electrified vehicles, aka electric vehicles, starting from the type of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), and FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle).

So, what is the meaning of each of these types? When and how much will Toyota's electric car cost in Indonesia? To know the answer, read this article to the end, OK!

Get to know the types of electrified vehicles from Toyota

Quoting the Toyota Indonesia Newsroom website, here is a brief explanation of each type:

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Hybrid cars are environmentally friendly cars. Basically, the way HEV works is similar to a car with a conventional engine (Internal Combustion Engine / ICE).

However, there is an additional electric motor as a substitute for the engine for certain conditions, for example below the specified speed or when the car stops. So, even if the engine is off, the cabin's electrical system and air conditioner still function.

This electric motor is driven by a battery power supply. Vehicles that adopt a hybrid system do not require a charging station. This vehicle has a self-charging system technology.

So, charging the battery is done from the performance of the engine that drives the generator and others by charging electricity to the battery when braking occurs (regenerative braking).

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Another type of Toyota electric car is the PHEV. This is a plug-in electric car equipped with an internal combustion engine or ICE.

The engine in the PHEV system is a range extender or an increase in the use of battery power to drive the motor.

In the PHEV system, the engine mostly works to drive the battery charger generator, especially in urban routes (approximately 60 km) assisted by regenerative braking. Therefore, the use of fuel is much more efficient than HEV.

Although this type gets additional power from the engine and also regenerative braking, the charging pattern is still not optimal to fully charge the battery.