Following the recent launch of their Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) factory, Toyota Motor Corporation has revealed that their next-generation BEVs will begin production in 2026.
These vehicles will feature advanced specifications to be appreciated as driving machines.
They will not only be designed and built differently but will also be powered by a range of new batteries specifically developed to meet various customer needs and expectations.
Under the theme “Change the Future of Cars,” the company shared an initial glimpse of their innovative BEV technologies, including a preview of their advanced battery technology implementation plan.
Takero Kato, President of Toyota’s BEV factory, announced that the next-generation vehicles will hit the market for the first time in 2026.
He also noted that out of the 3.5 million BEVs the company plans to sell by 2030, 1.7 million will be these models.
Kato highlighted that a range of battery technologies will be key in attracting BEVs to a broader customer base and their diverse needs.
Toyota develops liquid electrolyte batteries
Toyota is further developing liquid electrolyte batteries, which are currently the primary technology for BEVs, to provide better energy density, cost competitiveness, and charging speeds.
There are three main technologies in development for liquid electrolyte batteries: “Performance,” “Popularisation,” and “High Performance.”
Performance [Lithium-Ion]
The Performance Li-Ion battery, to be introduced with the next-generation BEVs, will increase the cruising range to over 800 km when combined with improved aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.
It is expected to offer a 20% cost reduction and enable fast charging in 20 minutes or less.
Popularisation [Iron and Lithium Phosphate]
The Popularisation battery is built using the bipolar technology pioneered by Toyota and confirmed with its NiMh hybrid electric vehicle batteries, combined with low-cost iron and lithium phosphate (LiFePO) as the core material.
It is expected to provide a 20% increase in cruising range, a 40% cost reduction, and enable fast charging in 30 minutes or less.
High Performance [Lithium-Ion]
Toyota is also developing a high-performance battery that combines bipolar structure with Li-Ion chemistry and a high-nickel cathode to achieve further advancements and increase the cruising range to over 1,000 km when combined with improved aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.
It is expected to offer an additional 10% cost reduction compared to the Performance battery and enable fast charging in 20 minutes or less.”
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