Global Courant
Toyota just unveiled plans for new battery technology for electric vehicles that could provide up to 900 miles of range, and many are calling it a potential game changer.
At a recent briefing, the company announced big news about new solid-state EV battery technology. Saying it simplified production of the material used to make solid-state batteries, the company plans to roll out a model 2025 that increases the sailing range by 20%.
A more powerful version is still being researched and developed, but has the potential to offer 50% more range — over 900 milessaid Toyota. That could take you from New York to Chicago and then some, and the recharge time would only be 10 minutes.
Toyota had already made headlines recently by announcing that it would launch EVs powered by solid-state batteries within a few years.
Solid-state batteries (as opposed to lithium-ion batteries, which use a liquid electrolyte) are considered a potential turning point for EVs. They have the power to reduce charging times, increase capacity and reduce the risk of fire.
The company will also bid two next-generation batteries types in 2026 and 2027 – referred to as “achievements” and “popularized”.
The performance version will use the same battery chemistry as the bZ4X SUV but will offer 20% more range. In addition, it costs 20% less. The popularized version has the same gain in range, but with a 40% cost reduction.
While solid-state batteries have been around for a while, there have been problems scaling up production to put them in mainstream electric cars, the Guardian reports. Many companies have been working on the problem, including Porsche. A startup has even developed a way to 3D print these batteries in different shapes and sizes.
However, according to the GuardianToyota claims that it has made a breakthrough in solid-state battery production that actually makes this product easier to produce than lithium batteries.
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Toyota’s solid-state battery innovations are big news for the company and the planet. The new technology will save consumers both time and money in the form of lower prices and less time spent at charging stations. A wider range will help solve reach fear for potential customers interested in EVs, making these cars more suitable for cross-country travel as charging infrastructure catches up.
This is also good news for the planet. EVs contribute much less planet-warming gases to the atmosphere than traditional cars.
David Baileyprofessor of business economics at the University of Birmingham, said this could be a pivotal moment in electric car development – if Toyota succeeds.
“Often there are breakthroughs in the prototype phase, but after that it’s hard to scale up,” he said the guard. “If it’s a real breakthrough, it could be a game-changer, the holy grail of battery vehicles.”
The company aims to mass-produce its solid-state battery by 2027-2028. However, Electrek urged people on not to get their hopes up because Toyota has a history of falling behind its timelines.
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