Toyota claims that by 2027 will introduce electric cars with new “holy grail” battery technology – that’s what experts say

Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links to our articles.

Toyota announced this week that it has signed a joint agreement with another Japanese company, Sumitomo Metal Mining, to mass-produce cathode materials needed for all-solid-state batteries (SSBs).

Unlike the current battery technology that powers most EVs, which uses a liquid as an electrolyte, solid-state technology replaces that liquid with a solid, allowing for smaller sizes, higher power, faster charging and longer lifespans. The potential of the technology is certainly exciting, but will Toyota really be the first?

“Solid-state batteries have been a clear goal of battery technology developers for decades, and many developers say this method is the holy grail,” explains Brian Barnet, CTO of fast charging and battery technology company Nyobolt.

“Clearly, the latest generation of efforts based on a small number of families of ceramic materials has made significant progress. We are now seeing the first demonstrations of batteries apparently made from these materials,” he adds.

But Toyota isn’t the only globally recognized company that says it will have this revolutionary battery technology in production by the end of the decade. According to experts, the history of the solid-state battery may turn out to be…

Claim: Toyota will be the first to sell electric cars with solid-state batteries

The auto giant, which has been relatively slow to go all-electric and only currently offers variants of the Bz4X and its Proace van outside of Japan, says it will be the first solid-state battery electric car on the market, with production models planned for 2027 or 2028.

According to Toyota, from 2021 it conducts joint research on cathode materials for solid-state batteries with Sumitomo Metal Mining Company, but the pair has since made a breakthrough in cathode materials thanks to Sumitomo Metal Mining’s proprietary powder synthesis technology.

This “highly durable” cathode material can be mass-produced, although Toyota said the two companies will continue to improve the performance, quality and safety of the cathode materials, as well as look for ways to reduce production costs.

According to them, this will soon be the world’s first practical use of solid-state batteries in BEVs.

Reality: Several car brands pursue the same claim

China has been at the forefront of electric vehicle technology for more than a decade, and its two biggest battery makers, CATL and BYD, are understandably working on solid-state solutions.

According to a recent report from China Central Television (via Electrek ), various universities and research institutes in the country have made major advances in recent months that are said to unlock solid-state batteries that can travel more than 600 miles on a single charge.

Scientists are said to have found a number of solutions to known electrolyte problems that hold back the technology.

Although the solid cathode is important, SSB also relies on a solid electrolyte. As a result, Toyota is working with Japanese oil giant Idemitsu Kosan to develop a solid lithium sulfide electrolyte that it hopes will help accelerate the delivery of next-generation electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, another Chinese company, SAIC MG, has launched the first mass-produced vehicle with a semi-solid battery in the latest MG 4 model.

Although it does not have the same solid electrolyte material, it uses half-way gel technology, which offers some benefits, but can be produced much more cheaply and in larger quantities than current SSB alternatives.

Mercedes-Benz is also pushing ahead with its technology, which has been demonstrated in its AQS prototype model, which has already gone an astounding 750 miles on a single charge.

BMW’s solid-state i7 prototype revealed one of the most impressive energy densities to date when it hit public roads earlier this year, boasting 390 Wh/kg, up from the 360 ​​Wh/kg achieved with the current Nio solid-state technology.

Since many of the vehicles mentioned are still in development, it is very difficult to know who will actually be the first to mass-produce an all-solid-state battery and make it a financially viable business.

“Technology is improving, but the hurdle remains from pilot lines to even thousands of packages per year,” says Dr. Kieran O’Regan, Chief Growth Officer, About:Energy.

“Companies like Volkswagen-backed QuantumScape have shown promising prototypes, but the leap from lab-built cells to automotive packaging with millions of units per year is slower and more expensive than originally predicted,” he adds.

So, although it is likely that in 2027 Toyota may be the first in 2027. will introduce a mass-produced electric car with a solid-state battery, manufacturing challenges could still slow down that process — it’s certainly not the only one operating on such a timeline.

Mercedes-Benz, BYD and CATL have also put 2027 on the automotive calendar, while Honda, Volkswagen and the powerful Stellantis Group say they are not far behind.

Still, whether or not Toyota takes the lead, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that the next 2-3 years will be an exciting, defining period for this supposed “holy grail” of battery technology — and for anyone disappointed by the range and charging speeds of today’s lithium-ion EVs.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred resource to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can too Follow TechRadar on TikTok. in the form of news, reviews, unboxing videos and receive our news regularly WhatsApp as well.

You may also like it