Toyota dealers to install EV chargers this year; PHEV under consideration

Toyota dealers in Australia will soon be at the forefront of electric vehicle travel.

The company has announced a vast majority of its almost 300-strong dealer network in Australia – the largest in the nation – will invest in electric vehicle infrastructure.

This will include charging facilities for the sale and service of electric vehicles, with an initial $5 million investment for 232 dealer sites currently underway, as it prepares to launch the bZ4X electric SUV later this year.

Toyota Australia vice president, sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, said the investment would grow to $20 million for additional chargers and locations as the demand for electric vehicles accelerates.

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"We have the country's best and most extensive dealer network, and they're already investing in charging infrastructure to support the sale and service of Toyota EVs."

Hanley said the chargers would be available "everywhere, from our capital cities to places as far as Cairns, Alice Springs and Broome."

"Combined with the [three electric vehicles due in the next three years] announced today, this investment is further evidence that Toyota and our dealers are serious about electric vehicles," added Hanley.

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While some electric vehicle chargers will be internally placed for dealer use only, others will be external for "24-hour, seven-day charging", which would be exclusive to Toyota owners, at this stage.

And the number of chargers available at each Toyota dealer will differ depending on the area's volume of electric vehicle sales.

Despite the investment, Toyota Australia will continued with its slow and gradual roll-out of electric vehicles, with a retained focus on hybrid options.

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Toyota Australia forecasts more than half of its sales will be electrified by 2025, but – although no breakdown was offered with that forecast – this is expected to be made up mostly of hybrid options for popular vehicles, such as the RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Cross, Kluger, Camry and Yaris Cross.

In 2022, hybrid vehicles accounted for 31.5 per cent of Toyota Australia's sales – 72,815 of 231,050 registrations – with that number expected to rise this year, despite lengthy wait times.

What about plug-in hybrids?

While Toyota Australia has yet to offer plug-in hybrids – including the RAV4 Prime – it hasn't ruled the technology out.

"Quite potential. I mean, plug-in hybrids offer other benefits, you know, it'd be a part of the portfolio going forward," said Hanley.

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"I've often thought how practical is plug-in, but… there will be a market for it, and it does serve a purpose in terms of emissions and range and reducing fuel consumption in a far more economical way, so we won't rule out plug-in hybrids at all as an option for Toyota in the line-up."

Of course, plug-in hybrid vehicles can also access electric vehicle chargers, potentially assisting with user take-up at Toyota's dealerships, should a business case for the brand's PHEVs prove successful.

The next-generation C-HR small SUV will offer a plug-in hybrid option in Europe, while the plug-in RAV4, Prius and Harrier/Venza models are currently ruled out for Australia.