Toyota will no longer stand on the sidelines and leave the huge (joke, joke) EV market to Mitsubishi and Nissan. The Nikkei [sub] has it that Toyota will start marketing an all-electric car in Japan in 2012.

Plans for an EV, based on ToMoCo’s iQ subcompact, had already been announced for the U.S. and other foreign markets (also in 2012). So why not sell the batteries-included car back home? Especially when Mitsubishi and Nissan are beating the drums for their i-MiEV and Leaf offerings.

Toyota’s rechargeable car won’t set new range records. It will go the usual 100 km / 60 miles on a single charge – hopefully. Toyota’s target market, as per The Nikkei: “short distance rides in urban areas where battery charging systems will be well established.” Wise move.