Toyota has announced a technological advancement that will enable it to cut the weight, size, and price of batteries in half, which could signal a significant development for electric vehicles.
The second-largest automaker in the world, Toyota, was already working toward a goal to introduce upgraded solid-state batteries in automobiles by 2025, which have advantages over liquid-based batteries.
The Financial Times, which broke the story of Toyota’s reported breakthrough, claims that the corporation now hopes to be able to build solid-state batteries for use in electric vehicles as early as 2027.
The chief battery expert for the Japanese automaker stated on Tuesday that streamlining the making of battery components would lower the price of its much anticipated forthcoming technology.
“For both our liquid and our solid-state batteries, we are aiming to drastically change the situation where current batteries are too big, heavy and expensive,” said Keiji Kaita, president of the Japanese auto firm’s research and development centre for carbon neutrality.
“In terms of potential, we will aim to halve all of these factors.”
The Potential of Solid-State Batteries
Industry insiders have long hailed solid-state batteries as a particularly viable solution for EV battery issues including charging time, capacity, and fire danger.
Instead of using graphite as in the present standard in lithium-ion batteries, it is swapped out for a solid electrolyte, and the anode will be made from lithium metal.
However, according to most carmakers, the technology is expensive and difficult to produce.
They have hence, pushed back its launch and have diverted their efforts to developing liquid-based lithium-ion batteries.
Toyota planned to sell hybrid electric cars with solid-state batteries by 2025, but now has confidence to mass-produce them by 2027 or 2028.[1]
The company has made a technological breakthrough to resolve durability issues and provide a solution for materials, enabling EVs with a range of 1,200km and a charging time of 10 minutes or less.
Speaking during the announcement, Keiji said thet their members are highly motivated and are working with the intention to launch the technology by the promised timeline.
He further noted that a reduction in battery material processes could lower cost of solid-state batteries to comparable or cheaper levels than liquid-based lithium-ion batteries.
References
- Kana Inagaki, ‘Toyota says solid-state battery breakthrough can halve cost and size’, Financial Times, 4 July 2023, https://www.ft.com/content/87cb8e92-8e82-4755-8fc3-2943f8f63e1d[↩]
