Toyota's Electric Vehicle Introduction: A Comprehensive Proposal

This report is a proposal outlining Toyota's strategy for entering the electric vehicle market. It begins with an introduction that highlights Toyota's late entry into the EV market and the need for a comprehensive plan. The proposal discusses several technologies and plans, including the implementation of improved battery technology, specifically solid-state batteries, to increase range and safety. It also emphasizes the development of charging stations and the design of diverse electric vehicle models, including hybrids and fully electric cars. The methodology section describes both qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as content analysis of battery features and surveys of charging stations and vehicle models. The report outlines the document's structure, including sections on battery technology, charging stations, and vehicle models, and concludes with the benefits of the proposed strategies. These benefits include improved battery performance, increased access to charging points, and the ability to satisfy customer preferences through diverse model options. A timeline is provided, with expected completion dates for the research and final submission to the Toyota Company. The report references several sources, including journals and books, to support the claims and recommendations.

Running Head: ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY TOYOTA
The Introduction of Electric Cars by Toyota
Name
Institutional affiliation

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INTRODUCTION
Topic and Purpose
This research proposal suggests and recommends the various technologies that have already
being implemented or that can be implemented by Toyota in their aim of introducing electric
cars into the market. Indeed, Toyota lagged behind when it comes to the introduction of electric
cars compared to the rest of the industry due to being entrenched in fuel cell hydrogen. Toyota
Motor Corporation has lost substantial quality time in the development and production of fuel
cell hydrogen cars resulting in another venturing in electric cars than it (Shizuo, 2010).
Therefore, there is a need for coming up with suitable strategies for developing and launching
different technologies and plans to popularize both commercial and passenger electric vehicles
manufactured by Toyota. Toyota has recently announced a major expansion of its plans on the
introduction and popularization of electric cars into the market for 2020-2030.
Scope
This proposal describes suitable technologies that have already being implemented or that can be
implemented by Toyota to introduce electric cars into the market. The problem being addressed
is the delay in developing and launching electric cars by Toyota due to being entrenched in fuel
cell hydrogen. Through the development and launching of different technologies and plans, the
introduced electric cars by Toyota can compete favorably with other companies that have
specialized in electric car manufacturing for a longer duration (Minami, 2011).
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSAL
Proposal
The proposed technologies that can be implemented in the newly designed or manufactured
electric cars before being introduced into the market include improved battery technology,
development of charging stations at different points, and designing different models of electric

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vehicles (Hideki, Ryosuke, Yoshinori, & Tsutomu, 2016). Batteries are the major technology of
electric cars and normally present limitation relating to cost, weight/packaging, and energy
density. The battery technology that is currently being used by Toyota and other companies is
Lithium-ion batteries which can propel a highway electric car on a single charge equivalent to
the single tank of conventional cars.
There is a need for replacing the lithium-ion batteries with the next generation solid-based
batteries which could make waves in terms of bother overall range and charging time. This solid-
based battery uses a solid electrolyte and a solid electrode instead of polymer gel or liquid
electrolyte found in lithium-ion batteries (Yow-Chyi, 2010). The soli-based battery technology
should be implemented in the electric cars to replace the current Lithium-ion batteries before
being introduced to the market because of its higher energy density and potentially safer. This
means that more electricity can be generated into a given volume (Rassõlkin & Vodovozov,
2013). This will enable Toyota to increase the range of electric vehicles without having to make
bigger battery packs.
Toyota should also consider situating battery recharging station where batteries can be replaced
mechanically at these stations in a few minutes before the car owner can process with the
journey. Batteries with greater energy density like metal-air fuel cell normally cannot be purely
recharged electrically (Pedret, 2013). These recharge stations should be situated in major towns
and cities globally before the introduction of electric cars on a large scale. Instead of battery
replacement, it is also possible to replace the entire chassis of the electric vehicle which entail
the wheels, electric motor, and batteries (Hofer, Wilhelm, & Warren, 2012). The battery system
of the electric vehicles can also be improved through the decoupling of the electric motors from

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the batteries through electronic control, implementing supercapacitors to buffer shot and large
demands of power and energy of regenerative braking.
Toyota should also consider developing all the Toyota car models into electric vehicles either as
an electrified option or a dedicated electrified model. This can be attained through increasing the
number of dedicated fuel cell electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles (Wood, 2012). The transition from conventional cars to
electric cars should be done as fast as possible while ensuring that all Toyota cars are either fully
electric cars or hybrid cars. Toyota is known to be biased towards hybrid cars because of its early
success with the Prius. However, those days are officially over hence there is a need of
committing to fully-electric cars.
There is also a need for increasing the number of charging stations for electric cars globally
before further introducing new electric vehicles into the market. For the sales of electric vehicles
to be high, these dedicated charging stations should be located in specific areas since the
charging process can take place overnight for a few hours for everyday usage. Widespread and
global implementation of electric car networks within large cities and towns should be the
priority so that the users can plug in their vehicles while at work and leave them to charge during
daytime (Pingyi, Sainbayar, & Shaolei, 2015). An inductive charging system can also be used as
a recharging system. This system is advantageous since it is convenient for parking instead of
charging stations and reduce connection infrastructure and cabling.
Methodology
The research methods that will be adopted for this research include both qualitative and
quantitative research methods. In quantitative research, the method entails only measurable data

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that are gathered and analyzed. This type of research involves content analysis, observational
research, and surveys. Content analysis is a very important method in the analysis of the
Lithium-ion battery and the newly recommended solid-based batteries. The analysis should be
based on the different features, energy density, charging time, composition, overall range, and
cost of the batteries (Jervis & Drake, 2014). The survey is also a method that can be used in
examination and recording of the total number of electric car recharging stations, electric
vehicles, and different models of electric vehicles in a major town or city.
Observational research is also another quantitative research method that involves physical
counting of different models of electric vehicles within an area to determine the rate at which
electric cars from Toyota are being purchased. Qualitative research methods that will be used
when researching the introduction of electric cars by Toyota include case studies and secondary
sources, interviews (Jervis & Drake, 2014). A case study can be conducted in a particular region
to gather data on the views of different operators of the electric views to determine their
recommendations and personal opinions. Secondary sources such as internet sources, journals,
and books can also be a significant source of data since the information contained in these
articles have been collected by different authors. The secondary sources can be accessed through
internet sources or the school library.
Document Outline
The specific sections and subsections of the proposed document listed below:
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Scope
2. Discussion of Technologies and Plans

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2.1 Improved battery technology,
2.2 Development of charging stations
2.3 Designing other models of electric vehicles.
3. Recommendation
3.1 Description of different technologies and plans
3.2 Justification of the suggestion
3.3 Implementation of the suggestions
CONCLUSION
Benefits
Through the development and launching of the proposed technologies and plans such as
improved battery technology, development of charging stations, and designing other models of
electric vehicles, the introduced electric cars by the Toyota can compete favorably with other
companies that have specialized in electric car manufacturing for a longer duration (Shizuo,
2010). These strategies are likely to popularize the Toyota electric cars more than other
companies through improving the performance of the battery, enabling access to charging points
by operators, and satisfying the taste of operators in terms of the car model.
Timeline
The expected date of completion of this research is by August 31st. A rough draft will be
completed by September 30, and a second draft will be ready for discussion by October 20. This
final draft, with any revisions suggested, will be complete by November 15 for the submission to
the Toyota Company.

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REFERENCES
Hideki, K., Ryosuke, A., Yoshinori, K., & Tsutomu, S. (2016). The eco-driving effect of electric vehicles
compared to conventional gasoline vehicles. AIMS Energy, 4, 804-816.
Hofer, J., Wilhelm, E., & Warren, W. (2012). Optimal Lightweighting in Battery Electric Vehicles. World
Electric Vehicle Journal, 5, 751-762.
Jervis, M., & Drake, A. (2014). The Use of Qualitative Research Methods in Quantitative Science: A
Review. Journal of Sensory Studies, 29, 234-247.
Minami, S. (2011). Reality and Virtuality of Electric Vehicles. Journal of Asian Electric Vehicles, 9, 1447-
1451.
Pedret, P. (2013). Control Systems for High Performance Electric Cars. World Electric Vehicle Journal, 6,
88-94.
Pingyi, F., Sainbayar, B., & Shaolei, R. (2015). Operation Analysis of Fast Charging Stations With Energy
Demand Control of Electric Vehicles. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 6, 1819-1826.
Rassõlkin, A., & Vodovozov, V. (2013). Experimental Setup to Explore the Drives of Battery Electric
Vehicles. World Electric Vehicle Journal, 6, 1109-1114.
Shizuo, A. (2010). Development of Toyota Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle. Journal of Asian Electric Vehicles, 8,
1399-1404.
Wood, T. (2012). Cost Analysis of Battery-powered Electric Vehicles in Macau. Journal of Asian Electric
Vehicles, 10, 1619-1623.
Yow-Chyi, L. (2010). Battery Management Systems for Improving Battery Efficiency in Electric Vehicles.
World Electric Vehicle Journal, 4, 351-357.