Toyota unveils new Urban electric SUV to rival Volvo’s EX30 as affordable EV option
Cheaper EVs are on the way. Toyota’s new Urban electric SUV Concept will challenge the affordable Volvo EX30 as the brand’s cheapest EV yet.
Toyota’s Urban electric SUV to rival low-cost EV market
On Monday, Toyota unveiled the Urban electric SUV concept at its annual Kenshiki forum in Brussels.
The concept is one of five new electric models due out in Europe by 2026. Toyota said the Urban SUV concept is a “close-to-production” design for a new EV launching next year.
It draws inspiration from the Toyota Yaris Cross, a top-seller in its segment. Despite its compact size, the crossover SUV features a bold “no compromise” design with strong wheel arches and a tall stance.
When it launches, Toyota’s Urban electric SUV will be available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive.
Toyota claims to have maximized the interior space to provide flexible space for passengers or cargo rooms.
Customers will be able to choose from two battery options. One will be aimed at affordability, and the other will offer more range.
Although Toyota has yet to provide details, it plans to introduce next-gen batteries for EVs beyond 2026. The company aims to increase the range by 20% while slashing costs by 40% compared to the current bZ4X.
At 4,300 mm (169″) long, 1,820 mm (72″) wide, and 1,620 mm (64″) tall, Toyota’s Urban electric SUV will directly compete with Volvo’s new EX30 (L – 166.7″, W – 72.3″, H – 61.2″).
Volvo expects the EX30 (see our review here), its smallest and cheapest EV, to make a big impact on sales.
Toyota Europe’s marketing director, Andrea Carlucci, hinted the EX30 would be a rival with a price tag of around €35,000 (~$38K).
The EX30 is offered in three powertrain options (€33,795 – €40,995) in Europe with up to 295.8 mi (combined) range. In the US, the electric SUV is available in two powertrains with up to 275 mi range.
Toyota will reveal more details on the new electric SUV in the first half of 2024. It will be the first new EV to join the bZ4X next year as Toyota looks to offer a diverse EV selection by 2026.
The new compact Urban electric SUV is one of several new EV concepts Toyota recently unveiled, including an Electric PickUp (EPU), Land Cruiser, and compact electric SUV.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota has been vowing to cut battery costs for some time now. Will they be able to do so with a new compact electric SUV?
The automaker expects the new EV to compete in “what’s expected to become one of Europe’s biggest BEV market segments.” It will compete with new models like the Volvo EX30, Jeep Avenger, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro, and BYD’s Atto 3. All of which have relatively low starting price tags.
To compete, Toyota will need to drive down costs. Check back for more info on Toyota’s new Urban electric SUV concept as it gets closer to launch.
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On today’s sunny side up episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at the latest from the world of solar power, and discuss Congressional Republicans’ plans to limit your energy independence by eliminating a critical tax credit for homeowners nearly ten years early. (!)
We’ve also got a quick review of a massive solar farm powering 200,000 homes in Indiana and the biggest solar project East of the Mississippi – both part of a record 98% of all new power generation and grid capacity introduced in 2025 coming from wind and solar. Those are jobs, those are lower utility rates, those are energy independence … so why are Congressional Republicans working to make that more expensive?
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If you want to read that EnergySage report on the state of the home solar industry, including news about battery energy storage system and V2H/V2G prices and financing trends, you can check it out for yourself, below, then let us know what you think in the comments.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Alphabet’s Waymo unit has received approval to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose.
In March, the company submitted a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to gain approval for its latest passenger safety plan, a key step in gaining permission to operate driverless vehicles across a broader area. On Monday, the proposed expansion was approved, allowing for Waymo’s driverless coverage to extend from San Francisco down through the Peninsula.
“We’re very excited to share that the CPUC has approved our application to operate our fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and nearly all of San Jose!” the company wrote in a post on X on Monday. “While this won’t change our operations in the near-term, we’re looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future.”
The $5 billion Empire Wind is back in business. The Trump administration’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has lifted its stop-work order for Empire Wind, a major offshore wind project off the coast of New York led by Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Equinor. Construction is now allowed to resume.
Equinor CEO Anders Opedal welcomed the news, saying the restart reinforces Equinor’s commitment to delivering clean energy while supporting local economies and saving thousands of jobs. He also credited a wide coalition of officials for helping get the project back on track, including Trump, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and congressional leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Dan Goldman. Opedal also thanked the Norwegian prime minister and the minister of finance for raising the issue with the US administration.
Governor Hochul said in a statement that “countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials” had taken place.
Neither the BOEM nor the Department of the Interior has issued a comment.
The Trump administration halted construction of the 54-turbine Empire Wind on April 16, but discussions between Equinor, regulators, and leaders at the federal, state, and city levels led to a reversal. That means Empire Wind can now push ahead with its goal of powering 500,000 New York homes with offshore wind energy.
“This project delivers on the energy ambitions shared by the US and New York by providing a vital new source of power to the region,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Wind US. She added that Empire Wind is boosting supply chain investments across the country, with activity in New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and South Carolina.
Equinor plans to reassess the project’s financials in the second quarter. The goal is still to install turbines offshore in 2025 and hit full commercial operation by 2027. The company says it will work with suppliers and regulators to minimize any delays from the month-long pause.
Empire Wind was first awarded its offshore lease in 2017 after a competitive federal process. It received its final construction green light in early 2024 following an extensive environmental review. Construction kicked off shortly after, and the project is now over 30% complete.
The US is a major market for Equinor. The Norwegian energy giant says it has invested around $60 billion in US energy projects since the early 2000s, more recently in low-carbon solutions, critical minerals, and renewables. Empire Wind is one of its flagship projects in the US.
Read more: Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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