Toyota is reviving the egg-shaped Previa as its first electric minivan
Toyota’s egg-shaped minivan, the Previa, is officially going electric. It will be revived as the first all-electric Toyota minivan. Will the funky-looking minivan find success as an EV?
When will Toyota launch its first electric minivan?
Although Toyota launched Japan’s first “electrified,” or PHEV models less than two weeks ago, we are already learning that a fully electric minivan is coming.
Toyota launched the Alphard and Vellfire PHEV minivans on December 20, offering both gas and hybrid powertrains. The new PHEV system provides up to 45 miles (73 km) of all-electric driving range, while the interior features “the quietness of a BEV.” Meanwhile, Toyota has bigger plans to enter the electric minivan market.
According to a recent report from Japan’s leading auto magazine, Best Car (via Forbes), the Toyota Previa will be revived in 2026.
Known for its egg-shaped design, the Toyota Previa was sold in the US and overseas markets in the early 1990s. However, due to stiff competition from the Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan, and others, the Previa was discontinued in 1997. In its final sales year, only 3,780 units were sold, compared to a peak of around 52,000 in 1991.
The Previa was replaced by the Sienna, which has a much more toned-down design and is still sold primarily in the North American market.
Although Toyota was expected to use the e-TNGA platform, which underpins the bZ4X electric SUV, a Toyota insider said the Previa EV will use the GA-K platform, currently used for the Crown, Camry, and RAV-4 models.
It will be available in both electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options. Like its predecessor, the electric minivan is expected to feature a similar egg-like design for aerodynamics.
The revived Previa was initially developed as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV), but Toyota changed its plans due to a lack of demand and charging. The FCEV model was previewed as the “Fine-Comfort Ride” Concept (shown above) in 2017.
Electrek’s Take
An all-electric Toyota minivan could help the Japanese auto giant finally gain traction in the EV market. Sales of its first electric model, the bZ4X, have been slower than expected due to an early recall and an influx of mid-size electric SUVs, many times with more range and features.
Toyota is known for its hybrids, like the Prius, so it’s no surprise that it will offer a PHEV version. However, without a dedicated EV platform, the electric Previa could suffer the same fate as the bZ4X, with less range and options.
Rivals like Hyundai are also launching their first electric minivans soon. Hyundai is preparing to begin production of its Staria Electric minivan next year. It’s expected to launch in Korea next year, followed by Europe in the first half of 2026. European-made models will be imported to places like Australia and Thailand, two key overseas markets for Toyota.
Recently, reports surfaced that Toyota is dropping the bZ4X (bZ) naming system, so an electric Previa minivan could make sense.
Toyota has teased other EV revivals, including electric Land Cruiser and Supra models. It also just launched the Urban Cruiser electric SUV in Europe. Check back soon for more info on Toyota’s first electric minivan.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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