A top Toyota scientist has warned G7 leaders about the dangers of only choosing electric as a viable power option for future vehicle. 

Speaking ahead of the recent G7 summit in Hiroshima, Gill Pratt, Toyota’s chief scientist and chief executive officer of the Toyota Research Institute, told reporters that the world lacked sufficient resources for EVs to be only cleaner car option. He also warned that that focusing only on BEVs could lead some drivers to hold onto polluting vehicles.

The head scientist at the world’s No. 1 carmaker believes that the transition to fully electric vehicles will take longer than people expect, and that a multipronged approach embracing hybrids and alternate fuels will be better for the environment and the auto industry. Gill commented, “Eventually, resource limitations will end, but for many years we will not have enough battery material and renewable recharging resources for a BEV-only solution. Battery materials and renewable charging infrastructure will eventually be plentiful, But it will take decades for battery material mines, renewable power generation facilities, transmission lines and seasonal energy storage facilities to scale up.”