Toyota announced intentions to deliver solid-state EV batteries with 10-minute fast charging and up to 750 miles (1,200 km) WLTP range in order to close the gap with Tesla, but with new EV battery technology still a few years away, Toyota may fall farther behind.
Toyota has been teasing solid-state EV battery technology for several years, and after discovering a "technological breakthrough" in June, Toyota said it was accelerating development. In October, Toyota and Japanese oil giant Idemitsu Kosan announced they would develop and build solid-state EV batteries, with mass production following in 2027.
"We will be rolling out our electric vehicles with solid-state batteries in a couple of years," said Vikram Gulati, head of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, at an investment summit in India. It will power "a vehicle that will be charging in 10 minutes, giving a range of 1,200 km (750 miles)," Gulati said, adding that the battery will have a "very good" life expectancy.
According to India's road transport minister, annual EV sales could reach 10 million by the end of the decade, as the country strives to become a global force in the transition to EVs. Electric cars accounted for about 2% of total vehicle sales in India last year, but the country aims to reach 30% by 2030.
Toyota plots solid-state EV battery roadmap
The business claims that its new technology would provide 10-minute rapid charging and much longer range, with two versions expected: one with a WLTP range of 621 miles (1,000 km) and another with a range of 750 miles (1,200 km).
Although Toyota claims its solid-state batteries could be a "potential game-changer for BEVs," they are not expected to launch until 2027 (at the earliest). The company plans to begin rolling out the new battery tech in 2027 and 2028, but in a recent Toyota Times post, the company said mass production is expected "for 2030 and beyond."
Toyota revealed the 2024 bZ4X will start at $43,070 with up to 252 miles EPA range in the US, with a Popularisation battery due out the following year. The lithium iron phosphate battery is designed to lower costs by around 40% compared to the bZ4X. Toyota aims to sell around 3.5 million EVs by 2030, or around a third of global sales.
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