Earlier this year, Toyota announced it was partnering with Panasonic to bring solid-state batteries into production by 2025. The fluoride ion solid-state battery has seven times the energy density and enables a range of 1,000 km on a single charge. It also charges a lot faster (zero to full in 10 minutes) so it will be a total game changer for the EV industry.
Now the automaker plans to debut its first working prototype next year. A production car that is offered for sale follows shortly thereafter. The current prototype offers a range of 500 km and can be charged from zero to full in ten minutes. That is twice the distance that an electric vehicle can travel with a conventional lithium-ion battery under similar conditions.
Nikkei Asia reported:
The technology is a potential panacea for the disadvantages of electric vehicles powered by traditional lithium-ion batteries, including the relatively short distance traveled on a single charge and charging times. Toyota plans to be the first company to sell a solid-state battery-equipped electric vehicle in the early 2020s. The world’s largest automaker will present a prototype next year.
(Image credit: Toyota)
The technology would revolutionize the EV industry. Solid-state batteries not only charge faster and have a higher energy density than Li-ions, but are also more compact and safer. They use a solid electrolyte, so if damaged they are less likely to fire because they don’t leak in Li-ion units like liquid electrolytes. In addition, they deteriorate less over time. Toyota estimates that the battery will maintain 90% performance over a 30-year lifespan.
The Japanese giant is currently the world leader in solid-state battery technology with over 1,000 patents related to this technology.
Given that electric vehicles are becoming commonplace with the world’s transition from carbon, the Japanese government is promoting the development of decarbonization technologies such as solid-state batteries domestically. It has put together a $ 19.2 billion support fund for companies doing research in the field. The money will help raise material and build mass production infrastructure in the country.
Samsung is now also working on solid-state batteries, and Brown University researchers are developing a way to make them even more effective with graphene.
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