Toyota’s Solid-State Batteries Set to Ignite EV Revolution or Fuel Environmental Controversy?
In a groundbreaking move that could redefine the future of electric vehicles (EVs), Toyota has announced its plans to introduce solid-state batteries (SSBs) in production cars by 2027. This bold step not only promises to enhance the performance of EVs significantly but also raises critical questions about environmental sustainability and the automotive industry’s direction in a world grappling with climate change.
Solid-state batteries differ fundamentally from the conventional lithium-ion batteries that power most electric vehicles today. While lithium-ion batteries rely on liquid electrolytes, SSBs utilize solid materials, which can potentially lead to greater energy density and improved safety. With claims that SSBs can produce double the power of current-generation batteries, tripling the range while being four times more durable, the implications for performance vehicles are enticing. The anticipated range of up to 745 miles per charge will allow for longer drives without the frequent need for recharging, potentially revolutionizing how consumers interact with electric cars.
The automotive landscape is at a turning point. For decades, traditional combustion engines have dominated, but increasing pressure from environmental regulations and consumer demand for green alternatives has spurred innovation among automakers. Companies like Toyota are investing heavily in solid-state technology, seeing it as a pivotal advancement that can perhaps position them ahead of competitors in the electric vehicle race. Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Engineering Development Centre, emphasizes the importance of solid-state technology for improving usability and durability compared to conventional battery technologies.
The stakes are high. While the performance benefits are undeniable, the environmental implications of producing these new batteries are not without scrutiny. The automotive industry must consider the entire lifecycle of electric vehicles, from extraction of raw materials to battery disposal. Toyota’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint during battery production and extending battery life is a crucial step towards mitigating the overall environmental impact. If solid-state batteries last four times longer than their lithium-ion counterparts, the carbon footprint during their usage cycle could be significantly decreased, theoretically reducing emissions by up to 75%.
Moreover, the introduction of solid-state batteries may not just benefit performance vehicles but could extend to commercial markets as well. Toyota is reportedly exploring applications for these batteries beyond passenger vehicles, which could help accelerate the transition to greener transport solutions across various sectors. This potential versatility opens up new avenues for sustainable business practices while fostering a corporate image of environmental responsibility.
However, the road to integrating solid-state batteries into mainstream vehicles is fraught with challenges. While Toyota claims it is “sticking to the schedule” for a 2027 launch, the transition from prototype to mass production involves numerous hurdles. These include overcoming manufacturing complexities, scaling up production while maintaining quality, and ensuring that the batteries can seamlessly integrate with existing vehicle architectures.
Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s chief technology officer, has stated that SSB technology could potentially be integrated into existing EV platforms, allowing for the same range in half the space. Still, the primary focus remains on developing new architectures dedicated to leveraging solid-state technology’s unique benefits.
While Toyota prepares to unveil the first model featuring solid-state batteries, speculation is rife about which vehicle will be the inaugural beneficiary of this innovation. The upcoming Lexus supercar, a radical successor to the LFA, is considered a strong candidate. Its sleek design and performance-oriented focus make it an ideal platform for solid-state technology, further elevating the stakes around its debut.
The automotive world is watching closely as Toyota embarks on this ambitious journey. The promise of high-performance electric vehicles powered by solid-state batteries could entice consumers who have remained skeptical of EVs due to range anxiety and performance concerns. However, as the industry pivots towards sustainability, the environmental implications of this technology must be thoroughly examined.
From sourcing materials for battery production to the recycling or disposal of outdated battery packs, every aspect of solid-state technology’s lifecycle must align with a commitment to reducing negative ecological impacts. Electric vehicles cannot be the solution to pollution if the methods for producing their key components contribute to the problem.
As Toyota aims to balance performance, innovation, and environmental stewardship, the company faces a critical moment in its history. The stakes are not just about who will lead the electric vehicle charge but about how the industry defines itself in response to climate change and consumer expectations. The deployment of solid-state batteries can either enhance the legacy of forward-thinking automotive leadership or expose the industry’s ongoing struggles with sustainable practices.
With the world clamoring for solutions to the climate crisis, Toyota’s journey into solid-state battery technology is a significant chapter in the ongoing narrative of electric vehicles and sustainability. The resolution to this potential breakthrough in battery technology may ultimately depend on the commitment to embrace environmental responsibility alongside performance enhancement in an ever-evolving market landscape.
Upcoming Lexus supercar could be first to use solid-state battery technology
Solid-state batteries are “high-power, compact and long range”, says Toyota – like the cars they will be fitted to
Toyota is on track to launch solid state batteries (SSB) in a production car by 2028 – and is set to deploy the bold new technology first in a performance electric car.
Toyota is one of several mainstream car makers investing in the development of SSB technology – which has long been viewed as a crucial next step for electric vehicle development, with the potential to significantly reduce the weight and size of battery packs while increasing performance.
SSBs are much more energy-dense than the lithium-ion batteries widely used in EVs today, so allow for much longer ranges while occupying the same physical footprint – and are therefore key to reducing the height of electric vehicles.
Toyota announced its plans to eventually productionise the technology almost a decade ago, and more recently revealed a prototype pack – saying it would feature in a production car in 2027, and be capable of providing up to 745 miles of range.
Giving an update on the programme at the Tokyo motor show, Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Engineering Development Centre, said solid-state technology is still considered “very important in the future”, for the significant improvements in usability and durability it offers compared to today’s conventional liquid-based packs.
He added that the firm is “sticking on the schedule” to put its first SSB in a production car in 2027 or 2028, and is also considering commercial vehicle opportunities.
Toyota says SSBs are capable of producing double the power of a current-generation battery, tripling the range and are four times more durable – characteristics that will ultimately define the types of cars they are used for.
“For the all-solid-state battery, the characteristic is high power, compact and long-range”, said Saita. “The cars will leverage these attributes.”
Based on that manifesto, a likely debut model for the new SSB battery tech is the upcoming Lexus supercar – a radical successor to the LFA which is thought to serve as an electric sibling model to the upcoming, V8-engined Toyota GR supercar. Its ultra-low silhouette and promise of super-fast performance would make it a logical beneficiary of the new batteries.
However, asked for clues as to the identity of the first solid-state car, Kaita would only say: “Whether it will be a Lexus or Toyota, we will leave that to your imagination.”
Another important factor in Toyota’s development of SSP is the significant implications it could have for reducing the environmental impact of BEVs.
“We will try to reduce the carbon footprint, and the key here is reducing the CO2 output in the process of manufacturing the material – but the most important thing is producing a battery whose life is longer,” said Santa.
If an SSB battery remains usable for four times longer than a conventional battery, theoretically its total carbon footprint during the use cycle is 75% reduced. “We keep in mind that we want to prolong the life of batteries,” he said.
Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s chief technology officer, said that “technically speaking”, SSB could be integrated into Toyota’s current EV platforms – where it could offer the same range in half the space – but the technology is primarily intended for use in new dedicated architectures.
For existing architectures and more mainstream vehicles, Toyota is working on a lower-height lithium-ion battery for use in next-generation models – with side-mounted terminals and improved materials that help to bring its total height down, thereby increasing interior space and lowering the roofline of future EVs – as demonstrated by the sleek, low-slung Corolla concept.
