In a quiet power move, Toyota's new 745-mile solid-state battery with rapid charging promises to upend the EV sector.
With the popularity of electric vehicles on the rise, battery technology has become a hot topic in the automobile industry. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are the mainstream technology used in electric vehicles and have several advantages over other types of batteries, including high energy density and long cycle life. However, they also have shortcomings such as long charging time, high cost, and thermal runaway risk.
To solve these problems, many automobile manufacturers and scientific research institutions are studying a new generation of battery technology: solid-state batteries.
A solid-state battery is a type of battery technology that uses solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte instead of the liquid or polymer gel electrolytes found in lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries.
Solid Electrolyte: The main difference between solid-state batteries and more traditional liquid batteries is the solid electrolyte. While traditional batteries use a liquid electrolyte solution, solid-state batteries use a solid material.
Safety: One of the major advantages of solid-state batteries is safety. Liquid electrolytes in conventional batteries are flammable and have been the cause of some battery fires in the past. Solid-state batteries, without the flammable liquid component, are generally considered to be safer.
Energy Density: Solid-state batteries have the potential to offer much higher energy density than current lithium-ion batteries. This means that, in theory, a solid-state battery could provide a lot more power while being the same size or even smaller than its lithium-ion counterpart. This has major implications for electric vehicles, potentially offering longer driving ranges.
Longevity: Solid-state batteries might have longer lifespans, with less degradation over time. This means they could retain their charging capacity for a longer period than conventional batteries.
Faster Charging: Due to their composition, these batteries could potentially be charged much faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Temperature Tolerance: Solid-state batteries can potentially operate in a wider range of temperatures, which is beneficial for various applications, especially in extreme conditions.
Challenges: While they offer many advantages, solid-state batteries also face several challenges, including manufacturing complexities, cost, and the need for further development to ensure long-term durability and reliability. However, these can be overcome with time and effort.
At present, many automobile manufacturers and scientific research institutions around the world are actively exploring and promoting the development of solid-state battery technology; Toyota is one notable example.
Toyota is one of the world's largest automakers and holds more patents for solid-state battery technology than any other company.
On July 5, 2023, Toyota announced that it had made exciting progress in the development of electric vehicle batteries. This breakthrough is mainly reflected in optimizing lithium-ion and solid-state batteries.
The latest research results on lithium-ion batteries will result in longer battery life, shorter charging times, and more frequent charging cycles. Current electric vehicles can travel about 510 kilometers on a single charge, while updated batteries can reach 1,000 kilometers.
Toyota also announced that it has made a major breakthrough in solid-state battery technology. This new type of battery will be able to halve the weight, volume, and cost of current batteries. With this breakthrough, Toyota is confident in producing a solid-state battery that offers a driving range of approximately 1,200 kilometers (around 745 miles) on a single charge and boasts a rapid charging time of under 10 minutes.
From the data released by Toyota, their solid-state battery technology offers several noteworthy benefits:
Extended Driving Range: The battery promises an impressive range of up to 1,000 to 1,200 kilometers, surpassing many of the current electric vehicles in the market.
Quick Charging: With the potential to achieve a full charge in just 10 minutes, this technology greatly enhances user convenience and the efficiency of travel.
Cost Efficiency: By refining the production process and boosting the production yield, costs could potentially drop between 20% to 40%, making these batteries economically attractive.
Compact Design: An increase in energy density combined with structural optimization means the weight and volume of these batteries could be reduced by half. This not only saves space but also lessens the vehicle's weight.
On the flip side, Toyota's leap into solid-state battery technology isn't without its challenges:
Technical Verification: Toyota's showcased solid-state battery technology is currently in its prototype phase. Its effectiveness and trustworthiness on a grander scale have yet to be established.
Uncertainty in Mass Production: While Toyota targets 2027 or 2028 for mass production of these batteries, numerous variables, such as market demand, policy backing, and supply chain stability, are still up in the air.
Rising Competition: Many automotive and battery giants, including BMW, Volkswagen, and CATL, are in the race to perfect solid-state battery technology. If any of these contenders get to mass production and commercialization ahead of Toyota, it could erode Toyota's pioneering edge in the sector.
Toyota's strategy for new energy vehicles is not clear and consistent, which makes it hard to predict their future.
Toyota has long advocated for hybrid electric vehicles as the optimal solution to cater to market demands while achieving environmental targets. However, as the battery electric vehicle (BEV) sector rapidly expanded and competition surged, Toyota found it necessary to pivot its approach. The company unveiled its BEV brand, "Beyond Zero," along with several BEV models. Furthermore, Toyota's recent ambitions highlight plans to release over ten battery-electric vehicles by 2025 and aim for global sales of battery-electric cars to hit 2 million by 2030. To bolster their advancements in this sector, Toyota has forged collaborations with fellow automakers and battery producers to champion solid-state battery innovations collectively.
Toyota has realized the importance of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and solid-state batteries. Toyota is working hard to catch up with and surpass its competitors in the market. However, there are still many uncertainties and risks about whether Toyota can successfully realize its goals and vision. For example, whether Toyota can achieve breakthroughs and leadership in technology, whether it can achieve competitiveness and profitability in terms of cost, whether it can gain recognition and trust from consumers in the market, whether it can obtain support and preferential policies, etc... These require Toyota to innovate and improve continuously, as well as cooperate with other automakers and battery suppliers.
To summarize, Toyota's venture into solid-state battery technology is brimming with potential and promises transformative advancements. However, it's not without its hurdles and uncertainties. Whether Toyota will establish itself as the frontrunner in this arena is something only time and market dynamics will determine. Nevertheless, we eagerly await the day Toyota rolls out its solid-state battery innovations, heralding a new era in the automotive landscape.
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Volkswagen |
Germany |
| #2 |  Toyota |
Japan |
| #3 |  Stellantis |
Netherlands |
| #4 |  Mercedes-Benz Group |
Germany |
| #5 |  Ford Motor |
United States |
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Michelin |
France |
| #2 |  Bridgestone |
Japan |
| #3 |  Continental |
Germany |
| #4 |  Goodyear |
United States |
| #5 |  Sumitomo |
Japan |
