Image: Toyota UK Media Site
Toyota announced a new battery electric vehicle factory that will begin production of new models in 2026. Not only will these cars be designed and built differently, they will be powered by a range of new, advanced batteries.
Details of four next generation batteries have been revealed, demonstrating state-of-the-art advances in both liquid and solid electrolytes. Toyota has also previewed further progress with solid electrolyte battery technology.
Takero Kato, president of the new production facility, indicated at the Let’s Change the Future of Cars workshop that these next generation models will account for 1.7 million of the 3.5 million BEVs Toyota expects to sell globally by 2030.
Three main battery types are under development: Performance, Popularised and High Performance.
Planned for introduction with the next generation Toyota BEVs from 2026, the Performance lithium-ion battery will increase driving range to more than 800km (497 miles), when combined with improved vehicle aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.
The Popularisation (lithium iron phosphate) battery is constructed using the bipolar technology Toyota pioneered for its nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries, combined with inexpensive lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo) as the core material. Toyota expects the battery to reach the market in 2026-27.
Toyota is also developing a High-performance (lithium-ion) battery that combines the bipolar structure with lithium-ion chemistry and a high nickel cathode to achieve a driving range capability of more than 1,000km (621 miles), when combined with improved aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.
Source: Toyota UK Media Site
Photo: Toyota UK Media Site