Toyota’s advanced battery technology roadmap
Three new liquid electrolyte battery technologies to deliver higher power, longer range, faster charging and lower cost
Solid-state breakthrough shifts development focus to mass production
Battery height reduction technology key to driving range improvements
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Toyota has unveiled four next generation batteries including state-of-the-art advances with both liquid and solid electrolytes, and gave a preview of two further steps with solid electrolyte battery technology.
Improved performance from liquid electrolyte batteries
Batteries with liquid electrolytes, which are currently the mainstream technology for BEVs, are being further developed by Toyota to deliver improved energy density, cost competitiveness and charging speeds.
There are three main technologies under development for liquid electrolyte batteries – ‘Performance’, ‘Popularised’ and ‘High Performance’
1. Performance [Lithium-Ion]
Intended to be introduced with the next-generation BEVs to be introduced in 2026, the Performance Li-Ion battery will increase the cruising range of BEVs to over 800km when combined with improved aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.
20% reduction in cost (compared to current bZ4X BEV)
Rapid recharging time of 20 minutes or less (SOC*1 = 10-80%)
Timing: expected 2026
*1 SOC – State of Charge
2. Popularisation [Lithium Iron Phosphate]
Toyota is developing high-quality, lower-cost batteries to support the wider appeal of BEVs by providing customers with a variety of battery options – similar to the choice they have today with different powertrains.
The Popularisation battery is constructed using the bipolar technology that Toyota pioneered and confirmed with its NiMh hybrid electric vehicle batteries, combined with inexpensive lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO) as the core material.
The Popularisation battery is expected to offer:
20% increase in cruising range (compared to current bZ4X)
40% reduction in cost (compared to current bZ4X)
Fast recharging time of 30 minutes or less (SOC*1= 10-80%)
Timing: expected 2026-27
Figure: Monopolar vs. Bipolar structure
Picture1
3. High-Performance [Lithium-Ion]
Toyota is also developing a High-Performance battery that combines the bipolar structure with Li-Ion chemistry and a high nickel cathode to achieve further advances and further increase cruising range capability to over 1000km when combined with improved aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.
The High-Performance battery is also expected to offer:
Further 10% reduction in cost compared to the Performance battery
Rapid charging time of 20 minutes or less (SOC*1 = 10-80%)
Timing: expected 2027-28
Breakthrough with Solid-State Batteries [Lithium-Ion]
Long seen as a potential game-changer for BEVs, Toyota has made a technological breakthrough in its quest to improve the durability of Li-Ion solid-state batteries.
Toyota solid-state batteries have a solid electrolyte, allowing for faster movement of ions and a greater tolerance of high voltages and temperatures.
These qualities make solid-state batteries suitable for rapid charging & discharging and delivering more power in a smaller form.
The trade-off, until now, has been an expected shorter battery life. However, recent technological advancements by Toyota have overcome this challenge and the company has switched its focus to putting solid-state batteries into mass production.
The aim is to be ready for commercial use by 2027-28.
And, while solid-state was initially slated for introduction on HEVs, Toyota’s focus is now primarily on next-generation BEVs.
Toyota’s first solid-state battery is expected to offer:
20% increase in cruising range vs. the Performance battery (approx. 1000 km)
Fast charge time of 10 minutes or less (SOC*1 = 10-80%)
Further Solid-State Development Activity
Toyota already has a higher specification Li-Ion solid-state battery under development which is targeting a 50% improvement in cruising range compared to the Performance battery.
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https://newsroom.toyota.eu/toyotas-advanced-battery-technology-roadmap/