COVID foils Toyota solid-state battery debut

Toyota’s plan to roll out an electric vehicle prototype powered by a solid-state battery has been foiled by the coronavirus.

The vehicle was due to be shown off during the Tokyo Olympics, that should have been happening right now.

But, of course, the world’s largest sporting event has been postponed until 2021 because of the pandemic.

So now we don’t know when we will see the Toyota solid-state battery prototype.

But Toyota has revealed solid-state batteries will reach limited production in 2025 as it works with supplier Panasonic to resolve safety and durability issues.

Solid-state is the next big step in battery technology because it charges quicker, lasts longer and has a greater energy density than the lithium-ion chemistry.

But crucially, early testing of solid-state batteries show they tend to fail after repeated charging.

The authoritative trade publication Automotive News reported Toyota’s claim the solid-state battery can recharge in just 15 minutes and the goal for them to retain 90 per cent of performance for 30 years.

Toyota and Panasonic are focused on a sulfur-based electrolyte that should allow a more efficient ion transfer between the electrodes.

AN quoted Toyota’s powertrain boss Keiji Kaita saying another solution might be found via new materials and designs.

The move to develop solid-state batteries is an expansion of Toyota’s EV strategy as it had long focussed on hydrogen and fuel cells.

In 2019 Toyota announced plans to bring six battery EVs to market between 2020 and 2025, starting in China.

It has rolled out a series of electric concepts in recent years including the LQ pictured at the top of this story and the e-Palette ride-share vehicle.

It is also jointly developing an EV crossover with Subaru that will be on the market by 2025.

In Australia there is no definite word on Toyota’s roll-out of EVs, although it has had significant success with its petrol-electric hybrids here.

The popular Camry hybrid updates to a lithium-ion battery pack in August, the same month a new-gen Yaris mini debuts with a hybrid powertrain .