Toyota claims its battery technology will again disrupt the automobile industry. The Japanese company is set to introduce the solid-state battery that promises greater efficiency, faster charging time, and enhanced safety features. The automaker said a fully functioning concept with the new battery pack is coming out in 2021.
The solid-state battery is intended to revolutionize the industry and Toyota said its technology will be the better option to the current energy standard used by EV makers, which is lithium-ion. When perfected, the new batteries will increase the energy density but with minimal risk of overheating, thus mitigating the possibility of fire.
Nikkei Asia called Toyota's solid-state battery a "game-changer" and "a potential cure-all for the drawbacks facing electric vehicles that run on conventional lithium-ion batteries."
The innovation will allow EVs to achieve full-charge in just 10 minutes, and the range will jump by over 100% in the same driving environment now seen with all-electric vehicles running on lithium-ion. Also, the Japanese firm made clear that the new battery technology will not compromise on EV's interior design.
Even a small electric car will enjoy ample interior room using solid-state batteries, the same report indicated.
As mentioned, Toyota will unveil a working prototype anytime in 2021, and from there, the company is looking to be the first to commercially offer the battery technology. If no glitches are encountered in the ongoing development, Toyota is expecting to sell EVs on solid-state batteries in volume over the next few years.
Toyota's push to make solid-state battery as the future standard has the support of the Japanese government, which has been advocating for key industry players to move away from carbon-based energy sources. Tokyo has been encouraging the leading automaker and all the other major industrialists in Japan to make the eventual shift to clean energy.
This program is supported by more than $19 billion of an allocated fund, and portions of which could be awarded as subsidies to companies working on the further improvement of battery technologies.
The news that a new battery standard will make for a more rewarding EV driving experience is welcome, but according to Electrek, the absence of hard facts, for now, should temper the expectations. While Toyota seemed confident that solid-state batteries will be ready for large-scale use soon, there are still concerns left to be addressed about the technology.
For one, Toyota must make clear how exactly the solid-state battery will be reliable. The automaker has yet to provide information on estimated charging cycles and the technology's performance at different temperature levels.
These are the basic puzzles about solid-state batteries that hopefully Toyota will crack in time for the technology's concept revelation in 2021.
