Last updated on June 14th, 2023 at 08:59 am
Toyota, Japan's leading automaker, has unveiled its bold vision for the future of battery electric vehicles (EVs) and announced plans to develop solid-state batteries, in a move aimed at combating climate change. The announcement comes as Toyota faces increasing pressure to catch up with its rivals in the EV market. The company's new president, Koji Sato, has acknowledged the criticism and emphasised the need for an aggressive shift towards electrification. This represents a marked difference in approach from previous boss Akio Toyoda.
Key to the company's new plan is a major development roadmap for EV batteries. This will see at least two major iterations coming to market by 2028. At that stage, Toyota believes that it will have an EV in the market with a WLTP range of close to 900 miles on a single charge.
Sato was speaking at the company's Tokyo headquarters, stating, “We like to see that as people cheering Toyota on,” regarding the pressure to accelerate its electric car offerings. While acknowledging the slower adoption of pure electric vehicles in emerging markets, Sato highlighted the advantages of EVs in terms of software functions, connectivity, and intelligent features that enhance services and entertainment for customers.
Toyota, renowned for its expertise in hybrid vehicles, is now committed to revamping its entire production system to deliver high-quality EVs under the Toyota and Lexus brands. The company's current line-up includes the bZ4X electric compact crossover, built on the e-TNGA platform developed in collaboration with Subaru. This platform is also used in the popular Prius and Lexus models. The bZ4X is already available in multiple markets, including Japan, the U.S., Europe, China, and Thailand. We've tested the Subaru implementation of this technology, in the Solterra, and can confirm that the drive train parts work excellently – although the software itself leaves a lot to be desired.
In an effort to strengthen its presence in the Chinese market, Toyota recently unveiled the bZ3, an electric car developed in collaboration with Chinese EV manufacturer BYD. The partnership also involves state-owned Tianjin FAW and other partners. By leveraging these collaborations and building on its extensive experience with the groundbreaking Prius, which debuted over 20 years ago, Toyota aims to solidify its position in the evolving EV market.
One of the key challenges for EV adoption is charging time. In response, Toyota is targeting a commercial solid-state battery by 2027, which could significantly reduce charging time to 10 minutes or less. The company believes that this breakthrough technology, coupled with an expanded EV line-up – and ongoing technological advancements – will enable them to deliver 1.5 million EVs globally by 2026. The company's most recent EV launch included a 10 year warranty on the battery – longer than the accepted 8 year standard.
Toyota is also actively working on innovating lithium-ion batteries, the prevailing battery technology in most EVs, to offer more affordable options. Despite its emphasis on EVs, the company remains committed to advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology. Toyota envisions a ‘hydrogen society' and is collaborating with partners to produce cleaner and more cost-effective hydrogen, leveraging both renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
When WhichEV spoke recently with SMMT CEO Mike Hawes about the ‘next most important thing' in the EV revolution that the world is going through, Hawes also emphasised that “Much more needs to be done to improve the hydrogen infrastructure”. While consumer vehicles seem destined to use batteries and to charge from the grid, commercial road transportation vehicles – as well as aircraft and boats – could well find hydrogen fuel systems a good choice in the future – as long as the hydrogen is ‘green' and not blue/black/brown etc.
While Toyota's commitment to electric and hydrogen vehicles is commendable, the automaker is expected to face scrutiny at its upcoming shareholders' meeting in Toyota city, Japan. Climate change commitments and the pace of Toyota's transition to electric mobility will likely be among the topics discussed.
Toyota's ambitious plans and technological advancements reflect a determined effort to adapt to the evolving automotive landscape and address the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions. With its vast resources and manufacturing expertise, the company aims to regain its competitive edge in the EV market while continuing to explore sustainable mobility solutions for the future.