Millions of EVs are now sold per year. It's still a small percent of total car but increasing rapidly and while all other manufacturers are spending time and money building up expertise and infrastructure Toyota is ignoring it.
Switching from ICE to EV is not easy and takes years to do so and the later Toyota delays it the more painful it will be.
That was not my point. The consumer should be able to decide when/if that happens. Not some arbitrarily imposed timeline. Advances in technology should be tested in the consumer marketplace.
There's no "if". And the when is just a matter of time required to bring up mineral/battery supply chains.
EVs are already (in most cases) cheaper than equivalent ICE vehicles over the lifetime of a vehicle. Soon they will become cheaper upfront as well. ICE won't compete very well after that, except in the luxury/enthusiast market.
Consumers choose automobiles over horse and buggy. They are choosing EV over ICE too, in greater quantities every year.
There's a significant percentage of EV owners that regret their purchase. They either sell it and buy and ICE vehicle, or their next purchase is not an EV. (I have talked to such people. They are not hard to find.) Admittedly some are happy with it, but your statement ignores the fickle nature of consumer demand.
I doubt that any of the reasons had to do with it being an EV. I would bet money on that. The reasons are probably things along the lines of: 1) charging infrastructure is not great for many people. 2) EV cars (tesla in particular) have a reputation of poor build quality not on par with ICE cars at equivalent. 3) A small percentage of people need to drive many hundreds of miles every day and range is an issue.
An electric engine is pretty unanimously superior to ICE for all but ICE enthusiasts (akin to horse enthusiasts). EVs have superior performance characteristics, lack pollution (both carbon and noise), and are much cheaper to maintain. And for most people who have charging infrastructure where they live, and EV means never having to actively go charge/fuel your car.
People didn't believe in the automobile either, at first. Yet no one would say "car vs horse" is a consumer preference choice.
Interesting you take it upon yourself to speak for all people. Not only that, but actively denying the existence of people who do not like EV's. They do exist, regardless of what you say. I've spoken with such people.
You don't address any actual points or provide counter-evidence, only that "I know people who don't like EVs".
I know people that don't like cars, and still have them. It's not a very compelling point.
You know what would be compelling? Telling me why ICE cars are superior to EVs, beyond what I've already discussed. I suspect you don't have any evidence however.
Switching from ICE to EV is not easy and takes years to do so and the later Toyota delays it the more painful it will be.