Toyota Reportedly Has Prototype Solid-State EV Battery in Testing
By John O'Dell December 7, 2010Toyota appears to be making good on its promise, delivered at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, to develop solid-state battery technology for electric-drive vehicles.
Successful development of such batteries would be a big deal as they can store more energy - for longer range between charges - and cost much less to produce than the lithium-ion batteries now considered state-of-the-art.
The Japanese automaker recently announced it has developed a prototype of a next-generation battery designed to provide a longer single-charge range and better performance in higher temperatures than possible with lithium-ion batteries.
The prototype Toyota solid-state battery, which has a 4"x4" cell, has positive and negative electrodes and a solid electrolyte made with lithium cobalt dioxide, graphite and sulfide, respectively, Asian electronics publication Nikkei Electronics reported.
Solid-state batteries are viewed as a possible successor to lithium-ion batteries because their increased power density may allow for a longer single-charge range. Additionally, the battery can withstand heat above 100 degrees Celsius, which causes lithium-ion batteries to stop functioning, Nikkei Electronics said.
Because of such advances, the U.S. Energy Department said in May that it awarded a $4 million grant to Planar Energy to develop solid-state batteries.
Planar is looking to develop batteries with enough energy density to provide a 300-mile single-charge range - triple the range stated by Nissan for its all-electric Leaf - while cutting production costs relative to lithium-ion batteries by as much as 70 percent.
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. President and CEO Jim Lentz said at the L.A. Auto Show that, in addition to an accelerated roll-out schedule for more conventional hybrids and the Prius plug-in hybrid electric, the company was working on solid-state battery advancements.
The technology's in its infancy, though, and commercial production is still considered to be years away.
Danny King, Contributor
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