Toyota claims battery breakthrough in potential boost for electric cars
The Japanese firm believes it could make a solid-state battery with a range of 745 miles that charges in 10 minutes, reports Rob Davies for The Guardian.
In a nutshell:
Range anxiety has long been seen as the biggest obstacle to electric car adoption. In survey after survey, respondents confess to their fear of being stranded without a charging station. Other potential turn-offs are lengthy charging times and the nagging impression that every once in a while, lithium-ion batteries explode with little or no warning. Toyota's solid-state battery is said to offer double the range in a smaller package while charging in half the time.
Key quote:
“If it is a genuine breakthrough it could be a gamechanger, very much the holy grail of battery vehicles.”
Big picture:
Toyota's announcement is potentially exciting and the world's second largest carmaker, with their ability to scale up manufacturing, seems to be well positioned to pull it off. Toyota, however, was recently dinged by the Advertising Standards Authority for exaggerating EV claims so there are valid reasons for skepticism. It is also worth noting that a number of automakers are hard at work on promising solid state battery designs with specs to rival Toyota's claims, so although the phrases, "breakthrough," "gamechanger" and "holy grail" are often overused, this emerging battery technology may prove to be a linchpin to EV adoption.
