For all the consistency and persistence that Toyota has applied to its Prius and hybrid technology, the automaker?s stance on electric cars has been a little harder to understand. After years of resisting any urge to create a rival for mass-produced electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf?or even the BMW i3 or the Tesla Model S?Toyota has a mass-market electric vehicle back on the development path. And according to a report, it may use solid-state batteries.
Solid-state technology, in simple terms, replaces the liquid or gel electrolyte between electrodes with a solid, crystalline electrolyte. While that could potentially give it several big (theoretical) performance advantages, like higher energy density, faster recharging, and a longer cycle life, none of these are likely to be realized in the form that is most developed at this point?using metallic lithium as the electrode material. The Japanese paper that originally reported Toyota’s plan, Chunichi Shimbun, didn?t cite sources?although Reuters quoted a spokeswoman for Toyota in Japan who confirmed that the company aims to commercialize full solid-state batteries by the early 2020s. Furthermore, the same spokeswoman told a Forbes contributor based in Japan that among new-generation batteries, ?solid-state batteries are considered closest to the level of practical application required to equip vehicles for volume production.?
In the United States, Toyota’s official response is a little more cagey. ?We are wor...