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(Elbil24): Toyota is the world’s largest car manufacturer measured in volume, but has so far not been among the most forward-looking on the electric car front. At the same time, the company has for several decades spent large sums on the development of batteries and efficient hybrid concepts.
And although mild hybrids and rechargeable hybrids will continue to dominate Toyota’s portfolio in the coming years, the Japanese manufacturer has also realized that battery electric is taking over at record speeds in several markets, not least in Europe.
By 2025, the company will therefore have introduced as many as 15 new all-electric models. Toyota has ambitions to sell eight million electrified vehicles by 2030, of which six million will be semi-electrified, while two million will be fully electric.
The latter will also include hydrogen cars, a category Toyota also has high expectations for in the years to come.
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First electric car in 2022
Initially, they have ready immediately crossoveren bZ4X, the first all-electric car with Toyota emblem (they are already on the market with Lexus UX 300e). It will be seen on the roads during 2022, and will in all probability be equipped with a so-called Blade battery from Chinese BYD.
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Among other things, the battery is free of cobalt, takes up less space and weighs less than traditional lithium-ion batteries. It must also be close to 100 percent fireproof. WORLD Tang is the first electric car on the Norwegian market, which is equipped with a Blade battery.
FIRST OUT: bZ4X is expected on the roads next year. Photo: Toyota
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Hefty commitment
At the same time, Toyota continues its own major investment in battery development. The company recently announced that it will invest close to 14 billion dollars (equivalent to around 122 billion Norwegian kroner) on the development of electric car batteries by 2030.
The money will be used for further development of current lithium-ion batteries, but to the highest degree also for the development of solid state batteries. Toyota is already well advanced here, and now confirms that they are on track to have production-ready solid batteries in 2025.
This is how the electric car worked in 1995
Will be far cheaper
Solid state batteries are often referred to as next generation batteries. They have a chemical composition that is more stable than lithium-ion batteries, enabling far greater energy density and faster charging – in addition to being fireproof. And although there are several who are able to make such batteries already now, the costs are currently too high for it to be profitable to do so.
Toyota expects this to change in the coming years. By, among other things, using cheaper materials and constructions, at the same time as the electric cars will be far more energy efficient, they aim to cut battery costs by 50 percent by 2030 – measured in relation to the current level, writes Automotive News.
The battery pack makes up a large part of the total cost of electric cars. If prices are significantly lower, it will necessarily also mean much cheaper electric cars, which is also the conclusion in this recent study.
Norway is also interested in getting its share of the pie. Here are several large battery factories under planning, the largest has ambitions to produce 700,000 electric car batteries annually in a few years.
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