New Delhi

Toyota, despite its cautious approach to fully electric vehicles, appears to be adapting to the changing automotive landscape. The company has announced that it will open Lexus charging stations to other electric vehicle (EV) brands in Japan, a strategy reminiscent of Tesla's approach in the United States and globally.

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Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, launched its first "rapid charging station" in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya in June 2023 as part of the Lexus Electrified Program. The initiative expanded with a second station at Karuiza Common Grounds in December 2023. These Lexus charging stations feature quick chargers capable of delivering up to 150 kW maximum power, allowing for rapid recharging similar to Tesla's Supercharger network.

For comparison, Tesla's Superchargers can provide up to 250 kW peak charging rates. Tesla has also confirmed that its upcoming V4 Supercharger will support up to 350 kW output, although it's currently capped at 250 kW.

Initially, Lexus charging stations were exclusive to Lexus owners, who could reserve charging spots up to 60 days in advance through the My Lexus app. The system offered a seamless payment experience similar to Tesla's Superchargers. Additionally, Lexus provided extra amenities such as complimentary drinks, workspaces, and discounts on nearby services.

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However, Toyota has now decided to open these Lexus charging stations to all EV owners, regardless of brand. This move mirrors Tesla's strategy of opening its Supercharger network to other EV manufacturers. 

In May 2023, Ford became the first automaker to announce plans to adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter, with nearly all other car manufacturers, including Toyota and Lexus, following suit to gain access to Tesla's extensive Supercharger network in the United States.

It's worth noting the significant difference in scale between the two networks. Tesla boasts over 15,000 Superchargers in the US and Canada, and more than 50,000 globally. In contrast, Lexus aims to have approximately 100 charging stations in Japan by 2030.

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Despite this move towards more open charging infrastructure, Toyota and Lexus continue to lag behind in the industry-wide shift to electric vehicles. In the first four months of 2024, Toyota, including its Lexus brand, sold 46,033 EVs globally. This figure represents only 3.4 per cent of Toyota's total car sales of 1.3 million during the same period, highlighting the company's continued reliance on traditional powertrains and hybrid technology.

This development suggests that while Toyota is taking steps to adapt to the growing EV market, it still has a considerable journey ahead to catch up with competitors who have more aggressively embraced full electrification.