TOKYO (AP) – Japan’s top automaker Toyota agreed yesterday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in future electric vehicles (EV).
The deal is an important step for Toyota Motor Corp, which has promised to speed up its battery EV offerings and catch up after having fallen behind rivals like Tesla and China’s BYD.
Toyota lags partly because of its success in hybrids, like the Prius, that are equipped with both gasoline engines and battery-powered motors.
Toyota, with its production finesse, and Idemitsu, which owns technologies in materials, said they are aiming for successful commercialisation of all-solid-state batteries in 2027 or 2028, followed by full-scale mass production.
“With repeated efforts involving trial and error, we have succeeded in developing a material that is more stable and less prone to crack,” Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato told reporters in Tokyo, after shaking hands with his counterpart at Idemitsu.
“The future of mobility lies in the tie-up between the auto and energy sectors, including this innovation hailing from Japan,” he said. Solid-state batteries are widely believed to be essential for mass commercialisation of battery-powered EVs.
The lithium-ion batteries whose components are liquid are now commonly used in electric vehicles, but are prone to fires. Solid-state batteries are more stable and potentially more powerful, but generally more expensive.
“The era of the solid-state battery is right around the corner,” said Idemistu Kosan Co Chief Executive Shunichi Kito.
