What i gather the long term process is that they want it to be able to convert it into hydrogen. the prototype is not so far, and yes only 20g. The question is how fast it develops if they are at 800g in a few years time it's starting to become very interesting even if it's an disposable filter.
I was somewhat mystified by this turning CO2 to H2. I did a bit of a google. The closest I found was a system to inject an electrolyte with CO2 ultimately generating electricity and H2. This looks good, but the devil is in the detail - scaling up to be a meaningful solution is yet to be done, or indeed confirmed it can be done.
This technology is similar to small scale battery technology advances which show significantly better performance than more traditional chemistries but without the ability to scale up then it is simply an interesting science experiment.
DIrect conversion of CO2 to H2 is alchemy. Using the CO2 as a reagent in another reaction is possible.
If you look at current eletric car reviews, simplier isn't the correct word. in theory it should be but it seems it only has become more complicated. Also with nasty features as a company that can shut your car down remotely. Or the future of the subscription based model where you need to pay monthly an own nothing.
The propulsion system is simpler. The complexity of the combustion engine - even ignoring the systems tacked on to try to reduce pollution - is undeniably greater than a battery motor system. The fact that cars are computers on wheels these days is more down to the additions we expect in terms of driver aids, comforts, entertainment, navigation, and everything else in the car. This is the same with combustion engines - it isn't a function of the propulsion system.
Same with "nasty features". A car could be remotely shut down no matter the propulsion system.
And the subscription model where you pay monthly and own nothing. This is called car leasing. Or renting. Or car share schemes. Already here and applies to combustion as well as electric vehicles. Besides, you say it like it is a bad thing. Car sharing schemes (eg. Zipcar), increase asset utilisation, reduce the number of cars thus reducing space for parking, and is very often significantly cheaper for the casual car user than any purchasing alternative. The rise of these schemes is not to do with propulsion system, it is a change in the way people view car ownership and - frankly - the rising cost of car prices and running costs. It is often a good thing. It allows a more sane price comparison with alternatives - the cost of use is per mile rather than a sunk cost each year whether you use it or not.
Toyota is also subsequently looking do stop oil, as in perfect the hydrogen combustion engines so the ''they just help the oil companies frame'' is a bit outlandisch if you read a few reports on this, litterly the first linked article is the Toyota ceo explaining their new combustion engine plan and the second is a project they started with honda to get an better hydrogen combustion engine.
He simply says EV sales are despite no lack of options a very small percentage of their overal sales, so his point is apperently there is still a demand so they won't switch to EV only but instead invest in multiple alternatives that also aim to reach the same goal.
But i guess you known better then one of the biggest car companies in the world whether a option is viable or not. Really sounds convincing.
Hydrogen is the darling of the fossil fuel lobby. Despite names such as blue or green hyrdrogen there is only one game in town. Grey hydrogen created by steam reforming and without CO2 sequestration (because that really isn't a thing at scale currently). Green hydrogen from electrolysis using excess electricity isn't a thing yet. Commercially it makes no sense currently.
Toyota - for whatever reason - are betting on combustion to at least a certain degree. I consider special filters that need to be replaced every few miles with a carbon sequestration scheme that appears to be little more than hand-waving to be a greenwash by a company struggling with agility. Maybe, just maybe, some of these schemes will become viable long term, but we are well into the short term in having to fix problems.
Besides as is said above, the best answer is fewer cars and fewer journeys by car.
