At a just lately held technical briefing, Toyota revealed plans for a number of new applied sciences, together with next-gen EV batteries, aerodynamic drag discount, and manufacturing upgrades to assist rework the corporate within the electrical period. After discovering a breakthrough, Toyota says it goals to supply solid-state state EV batteries that would doubtlessly supply over 900 miles driving vary.
A number of Toyota executives spoke on the occasion, explaining the automaker’s upcoming EV tech technique with ideas which are below improvement.
Though governments and buyers are urging Toyota to go all-electric, the Japanese automaker continues to stay to a hybrid technique that features EVs, PHEVs, HEVs, and gas cell automobiles (FCEV).
Toyota did reveal a number of new improvements to assist its next-generation EVs, together with the next:
Manufacturing upgrades to cut back prices
Hypersonic tech to boost aerodynamics
EV battery tech, together with solid-state batteries
Basic modifications to enhance EV product attraction
To make sure its future EVs are worthwhile, Toyota says it’ll incorporate a easy and slim car physique construction by Giga casting. The method utilized by Tesla simplifies manufacturing by lowering the variety of items wanted to make the automobile.
Toyota may also combine know-how like a self-propelling meeting line to allow mass-produced automobiles to maneuver alongside the meeting line independently.
By way of the investments, Toyota goals to chop manufacturing lead time, manufacturing processes, and manufacturing facility funding for mass-produced EVs by 50%, a major mounted price discount.
The Japanese automaker can also be finding out new know-how that may cut back drag, resembling hypersonic tech utilized in rockets, for its EVs. Toyota says it’s exploring improvements with the Area Programs Division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Toyota’s new EV battery tech roadmap
One of many largest takeaways from Toyota’s briefing was its next-gen EV battery tech. Toyota says it’s advancing its efforts to introduce its subsequent technology of electrical automobiles in 2026 with a cruising vary of over 620 miles (1,000 km).
The automaker plans to develop its lineup to offer numerous choices to supply consumers extra driving vary at decrease prices.
Toyota will supply two next-gen battery sorts in 2026 and 2027, together with efficiency and popularized variations. The efficiency will use the identical lithium nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery chemistry because the bZ4X electrical SUV, however will supply 20% extra driving vary with a 20% price discount.
The bZ4X gives 382 miles (615 km) CLTC driving vary (nevertheless, solely 252 miles EPA vary), so a 20% enhance could be simply over 458 miles CLTC.
The popularized model is predicted to additionally supply 20% extra driving vary, however with a 40% discount in prices, in comparison with its first electrical mannequin, utilizing a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry.
Its “additional evolution” features a high-performance battery that mixes a bipolar construction with a excessive nickel cathode to extend cruising vary by 10%, cut back prices by 20%, and supply fast charging (10% to 80%) in 20 minutes or much less.
Toyota has additionally found a technological breakthrough with solid-state EV battery tech. The battery is predicted to supply a 20% enchancment in cruising vary.
The automaker says it’s accelerating improvement and goals for mass manufacturing from 2027 to 2028, focusing on 20% extra vary and a 10-minute fast cost. A better-performance model is below analysis and improvement, which Toyota says will ship 50% extra cruising vary, suggesting it might be over 900 miles.
Toyota additionally plans to downsize key EV parts, together with the motor, gear, prepare, and inverters, with a “small eAxle” to supply extra vary and fewer drag. With next-gen SiC wafers, Toyota goals for 50% much less energy loss to enhance EV power consumption.
On the finish of the briefing, Toyota previewed its multi-pathway platform by changing the powertrain of a Crown into an electrical automobile (proven on the prime).
Electrek’s Take
Let’s be clear – there are plenty of daring claims in Toyota’s newest tech briefing. Be mindful many of those are ideas Toyota is researching and plans to develop or is growing already.
Toyota has constantly made daring claims prior to now relating to “superior EV battery tech,” like solid-state batteries which have but to come back to fruition, so don’t get your hopes up.
For instance, Toyota claimed they’d have their first EV powered by a solid-state battery out in 2021, after which in 2017, it moved to 2022 after which 2025. Name me a skeptic, however now they’re claiming round 2028.
In the meantime, the brand new technique comes a day after a number of Toyota shareholders revealed they’ve voted or plan to vote to oust longtime chief and well-known EV critic Akio Toyoda from the board over the automaker failing to set a date to go all-electric.
East Peterson-Trujillo, clear automobiles campaigner with Public Citizen’s Local weather Group, mentioned in an announcement despatched to Electrek:
Automakers with no strong EV technique are automakers in hassle. Toyota’s announcement right now that it plans to begin promoting superior battery know-how in long-range EVs beginning in 2027 is a transparent try and assuage shareholder considerations on the assembly. Till Toyota stops preventing the electrical car future and commits to a 100% zero-emission car line-up, shareholders ought to stay skeptical and proceed to push for accountability.
Toyota could also be feeling the stress to speed up BEV improvement, but it surely continues investing in different areas, together with gas cell and hybrid know-how, which is able to doubtless be a expensive technique going ahead. That’s why shareholders are urging the automaker to select up the tempo or danger shedding out on income.
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