Toyota's EV Future: Super Battery and Giga-Casting

Toyota has long been criticized by some investors for its slow adoption of battery-electric models. Now, the automaker announces a goal to achieve annual sales of 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2026, and its existing EV strategy is being reviewed. According to the American news agency Reuters, new technologies are expected to accelerate the transition to electromobility.

Super Battery and Solid-State Cell

Toyota has launched a series of initiatives to improve battery performance and reduce costs, stating that the company is ready to shift from research to production of solid-state batteries. These batteries promise higher energy density and shorter charging times than the currently used lithium-ion batteries. Vehicles with solid-state batteries are expected to be sold as early as 2027 or 2028.

According to the company's own statements, Toyota engineers have achieved a technological breakthrough and overcome issues with the durability of solid-state batteries. Toyota also announced that in 2026, it will have an energy-intensive battery available for an electric car with a range of 1,000 km on a single charge, a charging time of 20 minutes or less, and a 20 percent cost reduction compared to its current electric car, the bZ4X.

Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery as an Affordable Alternative

Furthermore, Toyota announced that it plans to produce a range of more cost-effective lithium-iron-phosphate batteries (LFP) for use in 2026 or 2027. Toyota aims to increase the range by 20 percent and reduce costs by 40 percent compared to the bZ4X.

Giga-Casting Also at Toyota

The Japanese auto giant will adopt the Giga-Casting production method developed by Tesla in the future. So-called Giga Presses reduce complex welded assemblies in automotive manufacturing through a single, massive aluminum die-casting machine to streamline production.

Additionally, more flexible assembly lines with self-driving vehicles and digital technology are expected to reduce the investment costs for new vehicles by half and lower fixed costs, including labor costs.

Rocket Technology from Mitsubishi

The lower the drag coefficient - a measure of a car's wind resistance - the more efficiently a car can operate on the road. For example, Tesla's best-selling Model Y has a drag coefficient of about 0.23. With 0.197, the Lucid Air, a luxury sedan from the US manufacturer Lucid Motors, currently holds the record for production vehicles.

Toyota is reportedly working with rocket designers from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to improve the aerodynamics of electric cars and increase their range. Toyota is aiming for a coefficient of 0.1 in the long term.

Fuel Cell Technology for Third Parties

The hydrogen markets in Europe, China, and North America are set to expand by 2030, and the fuel cell market is expected by Toyota to grow rapidly by then, reaching a volume of over 30 billion euros per year. Toyota wants to promote the external sale of fuel cells using the hydrogen units of the Mirai and has reportedly already received offers for the external sale of 100,000 units by 2030. Most of these are commercial vehicles.