Although Toyota missed out on the initial EV boom, it seems to be charging forward with new electric and hybrid technologies in an attempt to find a more robust solution for zero-emissions transportation. Previously, we heard about the company's new technologies that would reduce battery production costs by 20% and increase range to upwards of 600 miles.
Now, a new report from The Financial Times claims that Toyota will be able to include solid-state batteries in its electric cars as early as 2027, although it will take a while for production to scale enough for solid-state batteries to feature in every electric vehicle.
Toyota is reportedly working alongside Japanese energy group, Idemitsu Kosan, on a new battery technology called sulphide solid electrode. The new electrode promises a much higher energy density and lower safety risk when operated in harsh conditions.
Reportedly, current sulphide solid electrode technology suffers from a few flaws, primary of which is a difficult, precise manufacturing process that requires accurate, gentle stacking of anode-cathode cells. This manufacturing is where Toyota claims to have an edge — one engineer told The Financial Times that the company is "almost there," and that it it going to "roll out bigger volumes and check the quality."
If what Toyota claims is true, it could significantly reduce EV charging times, reduce the already-low fire risks associated with current-gen lithium-ion technology, and vastly increase EV range. Other manufacturers, like Samsung SDI, NIO, and CATL are on a similar track towards production-ready solid-state batteries, although many think the technology is still far off.
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