Toyota presented its plans for future batteries. He is working on four types, which promise very long autonomy and sharply reduced prices.
To catch up on the electric car market, Toyota will focus on an important element: the design of its own batteries. The brand has just detailed its plans in this area. Four types of new batteries are in preparation to equip what Toyota calls its new generation electrics.
Takero Kato, who took charge of Toyota’s BEV Factory, the branch dedicated to this new generation of electric cars, declared: “ We’re going to need different types of batteries, just like we have different powertrains. It is important to offer battery solutions that are compatible with various models and meet the different needs of customers.”
Three of the four current projects focus on liquid electrolyte batteries, which are the most frequently used at the moment. The brand wants to “improve their energy density, their competitiveness and their charging speed”. The first one that is ready will be named Performance. It will be in 2026.
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Compared to the bZ4X battery, costs will be reduced by 20%, while autonomy will increase significantly. That of the SUV is 500 km. Toyota is aiming for 800 km, a value also driven by vehicle weight reduction and extensive work on its aerodynamics. Recharging from 10 to 80% should be done in 20 minutes, 10 minutes less than for the bZ4X.
Then there will be the entry-level battery. This will have the particularity of using the bipolar structure technology developed by the brand and applied to its NiMh batteries intended for hybrid vehicles. In addition, to reduce the cost by 40% compared to the bZ4X battery, it will be an LFP. The target range is 600 km. The launch is planned for 2026 or 2027.
Afterwards, in 2027 or 2028, Toyota will have a High-Performance battery which combines the bipolar structure, lithium-ion and a cathode with a high nickel content. For this battery, the manufacturer is directly targeting 1000 km of autonomy, while still reducing costs by 10% compared to the Performance battery.
At the same time, by 2027/2028, Toyota hopes to release its solid electrolyte battery. The brand recalls that this technology allows “faster movement of ions and greater tolerance to high voltages and temperatures”. Recharge times are thus accelerated. Toyota aims to fill up from 10 to 80% in 10 minutes, for a battery that promises 1,200 km of range!
The downside could be shorter battery life, but the manufacturer says it has made progress to eliminate this and therefore aim for mass production. It originally intended to use solids for its hybrids, but it now plans to use them mainly for its new generation electrics. However, the brand is not yet commenting on the costs.
The other important aspect for these batteries is a reduction in their thickness. The bZ4X battery pack, including case, measures approximately 150mm in height. Toyota wants to lower this to 120 mm, or even 100 mm for sports models. These centimeters gained make it possible to reduce the size of the car and therefore improve their aerodynamics.
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