Electric cars could have 745-mile range and charge in minutes after huge Toyota breakthrough
The technology could be seen as soon as 2027
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Range anxiety could be a thing of the past after a major manufacturer claimed that electric cars with a range of almost 750 miles could be seen within years.
According to Toyota, solid-state batteries could see electric cars have a range of 745 miles and a charging time of just 10 minutes.
The manufacturer and other transport experts are hoping that EVs powered by solid-state batteries could hit the market in 2027 or 2028.
The estimated range of 1,200km would be more than twice the range of Toyota’s current electric car range.
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There are some issues in the production process of such solid-state batteries, as the layers of material inside need to be stacked quickly and with high precision, according to the Financial Times.
The average range of electric vehicles has been growing, with the first mass-market EV, the Nissan Leaf, having a total range of just 109 miles when it was launched in 2011.
While many electric vehicles are made with the intention of being commuting cars with smaller ranges, others are produced to be used as a daily driver.
The majority of new electric cars hitting the market will have a range of over 200 miles, with a handful having a range of around 350 miles.
Speaking at the Japan Mobility Show 2023, Koji Sato, President and CEO of Toyota, said: “The first story is our future life with battery EVs.
“They are not only eco-friendly. Electric cars also offer their own flavour of driving fun and automotive seasoning.
“And they can deliver diverse experience value. This is our vision for battery EVs. We are making battery EVs like only a true carmaker can.”
Toyota currently has three battery electric vehicles, one plug-in hybrid electric and seven hybrid electric vehicles on its UK website.
The Toyota bZ4X is the only passenger EV, starting from £46,110, as well as two van models, the Proace City Electric and the Proace Electric.
It is expected that production of the solid-state batteries will be small when they are first rolled out, but there are hopes that this will quickly ramp up as they develop the process.
Koji Sato continued, saying: “Through repeated trial and error and by combining the material technologies of both companies, we have been able to develop a crack-resistant material that demonstrates high performance.
“By combining this new solid electrolyte with the Toyota Group's cathode and anode materials and battery technologies, we are now on the path toward achieving both performance and durability in solid-state batteries.”
Toyota is working alongside Idemitsu to develop mass production of solid electrolytes as a key component inside the solid-state batteries.
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The Toyota bZ4X
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Shunichi Kito, President and CEO of Idemitsu, added: “With this belief and determination, we will move forward. I believe that this collaboration is our first step toward giving shape to change together with like-minded colleagues.”