Toyota sets new plan to deliver solid-state battery breakthrough, targets 745-mile range, 10-minute charge
Oredola Adeola
Toyota, Japanese automaker, has announced a technological breakthrough that could halve the weight, size, and cost of solid-state batteries, potentially making it possible to produce electric vehicles with a range of 1,200km (745 miles) and a charging time of 10 minutes or less.
The Japanese car maker made this known in a recently held technical briefing, revealing its plans for several new technologies, including next-gen EV batteries, aerodynamic drag reduction, and manufacturing upgrades to help transform the company in the electric era.
The company has been pursuing a plan to roll out cars with advanced solid-state batteries by 2025, after discovering a breakthrough. It also hinted that the plan to offer solid-state state EV batteries that could potentially offer over 900 miles driving range and a charging time of 10 minutes or less.
EnergyDay gathered that solid-state batteries offer benefits compared with liquid-based batteries, such as higher energy density, faster charging times, and improved safety.
Toyota said it believed it could simplify the production process, potentially making solid-state batteries easier to produce than lithium-ion ones.
The automaker said that it will continue to stick to a hybrid strategy that includes EVs, PHEVs, HEVs, and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV).
The car manufacturer also revealed several new innovations all aimed at supporting its next-generation EVs, including, Manufacturing upgrades to reduce costs; Hypersonic tech to enhance aerodynamics.
EV battery tech, including solid-state batteries; and Fundamental changes to improve EV product appeal.
This it said would ensure that its future EVs are profitable, adding that it will incorporate a simple and slim vehicle body structure through Giga casting.
EnergyDay gathered that Toyota has made bold claims in the past regarding advanced EV battery tech, like solid-state batteries that have yet to be fulfilled.
The automaker claimed it would have its first EV powered by a solid-state battery out in 2021, and then in 2017, it moved to 2022 and then 2025. Now, they are claiming around 2028.
Toyota may be feeling the pressure from its shareholders who have voted or plan to vote to oust longtime leader and well-known EV critic Akio Toyoda from the board over the automaker failing to set a date to go all-electric
The company’s shareholders are urging the automaker to pick up the pace or risk losing out on profits, after the automaker has accelerated BEV development, and continues investing in fuel cell and hybrid technology, which will likely be a costly strategy going forward.
