

I do agree about the early hybrids, The OG prius was a dog. But I feel that they sorted it out quickly enough, engineered out the potential reliability issues of a more complex drive train, brought down the price of batteries and motor tech, etc.
They had a huge advantage in solving these problems before anyone else was touching hybrid tech, and then largely squandered the lead, and a chance to make everything they sell cleaner and more efficient.















Compared to everything else on the market it had big problems with reliability, range, charging speed, and it was overpriced.
I think everyone expected that Toyota, with its hybrid experience and the benefits of seeing all other EVs on the market wouldn’t make such a poor attempt. It felt like they were poisoning the well, as if not wanting to compete in the EV space in the first place.