The business has been sluggish to adopt EVs, but perhaps it was simply
awaiting the ideal battery.
Although Toyota has periodically considered taking the top spot among
manufacturers, it now trails Volkswagen in terms of revenue. In the near
future, Toyota may return to the top spot if the most recent rumor about its
electrified aspirations is accurate. A breakthrough in solid-state battery
technology, according to the Japanese business, may enable automobiles to
drive hundreds of miles further and recharge even more quickly.
Toyota has resisted investing as much in EV production as the majority of
automakers have. With the exception of sporadic low-volume models like the
bZ4X, Toyota has continued to be devoted to hybrid vehicles following the
Prius' enormous success in the early and middle 2000s. Even talking notes on
why it doesn't produce electric vehicles to compete with Ford and Volkswagen
were sent to dealers. The corporation has insisted that producing more
hybrid vehicles out of battery materials is more cost-effective than
producing a small number of fully electric ones.
If the new battery technology turns out to be successful, Toyota could be
prepared to get into EVs. The Guardian reports that Toyota's long-promised
new solid-state battery has finally been created thanks to better
manufacturing techniques. Compared to the liquid-based lithium-ion cells now
utilized in all EVs, the new battery has many benefits. For instance, they
potentially have a range that is more than twice as great as conventional
EVs, at 745 miles (1,200 kilometers).
One of the primary disadvantages of switching at this time is the necessity
of often recharging an EV. When compared to luxury EVs like the Tesla Model
3 (333 miles) or Ford Mustang Mach E (312 miles), low-cost EVs like the
Nissan Leaf barely surpass 200 miles per charge. Even the long-delayed Tesla
Cybertruck only advertises a top-of-the-line variant with a 500-mile range.
A vehicle that could travel more than 700 miles without recharging would
therefore be quite significant.
You might assume that traveling a few hundred miles isn't all that bad.
After all, the range of most gasoline-powered vehicles is comparable. The
distinction is that whereas petrol stations are easily accessible, EV
chargers can occasionally be challenging to locate. Government initiatives
to increase EV chargers have just begun. Even if you do manage to locate
one, it could not have a plug that works with your vehicle, and the majority
of publicly accessible chargers have charging speeds that are far slower
than the top speeds of contemporary electric vehicles. Toyota's solid-state
battery may help with the speed issues; according to the firm, a full
700-mile battery may be charged in as little as 10 minutes.
We've heard of significant EV breakthroughs that never materialize, but
Toyota stands out for taking a careful approach to electrifying its
portfolio. We could be at a turning moment if even Toyota is motivated to
sell you an EV.
