NIKKEI Asia Online December 10, 2020 07:29 JST |Technology|”Toyota’s game-changing solid-state battery en route for 2021 debut”. “Japan’s government to join forces with industry to supercharge development.”
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“Range Anxiety” seems always back-of-mind with potential buyers of Electric-Powered Vehicles (EV) but now Toyota Motors is reporting success from their over 1,000 patents on solid state batteries (SSB) that will double current ranges to about 310 miles per charge. Even better SSB can charge from 0 to full in ten minutes a rate 66% faster than current lithium-ion batteries. All this with a lower risk of fire and no compromise of interior space. If things go as planned, the world’s largest automaker, will roll-out a prototype next year. The first SSB-powered EVs by Toyota are planned to be in market early in the 2020s.
“Manufacturing solid electrolytes requires solidifying sulfides.” This and other requirements have a number of Japanese firms developing the supply chain. Mitsui Kinzoku is preparing to supply “dozens of tons” of solid-state electrolyte sufficient to facilitate early prototypes. Idemitsu Kosan and Sumitomo Chemical are reportedly working on needed materials as well.
Previously Sony and Panasonic pioneered commercial battery cells for EVs but more recently Chinese rivals have led the way especially Amperex Technology Company, as the largest currently supplier of lithium-ion batteries, and Shanghai Energy in supplying battery separation materials just surpassing Japan’s Ashai Kasei.
The Japanese Government is making available $19.2B to help support decarbonization technology with an aim to have the needed mass production infrastructure in Japan. As lithium is still needed the Japanese government is committed to assist with sourcing the raw material.
Nissan has plans using SSB in production EVs by 2028 and VW working in a JV with an American startup is targeting 2025.
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