TOYOTA BETS ON SOLID-STATE BATTERIES

While Volkswagen is betting the house on full electric cars, Toyota seems to be hedging its bets on solid-state battery technology as a future solution, while in the meantime focusing only on hybrid electric vehicles.

“Battery-powered cars with a long range are very expensive and it takes a long time to charge them,” Toyota’s 71-yearold Chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, was quoted as saying by Der Spiegel. “Such cars do not fit in our programme.” Uchiyamada, who is seen as the “father” of the Toyota Prius, which initiated the global move towards electrification, indicated that Toyota’s solid-state battery technology could be ready for mass production within the next four to five years. Solid-state batteries could be a game changer since these batteries would be able to store more energy and reduce the time it takes to charge compared to current batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes.

Toyota is by no means the only company trying to perfect solid-state battery technology – every battery manufacturer in the world is scrambling to come up with the first viable solution to a problem that has vexed battery scientists for decades. minutes on a DC fast charger, or 2 hours on a standard house supply. With 150 kW on tap and 228 Nm of torque, this street legal machine is equally suited to track days or weekend rides on your favourite back roads.