Toyota And Idemitsu Collaborate In Developing EV Battery Tech

Japan's top automaker, Toyota, has agreed to collaborate with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, to develop technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries, which are expected to become a key component in future electric vehicles, reported by Yuri Kageyama for the Associated Press (AP).

The ceremonial handshake between Koji Sato, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation and Shunichi Kito, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. I Photo: Toyota

This deal marks a significant step for Toyota Motor Corp., which has pledged to accelerate its battery electric vehicle (BEV) offerings to catch up with competitors like

Tesla and China's BYD. Toyota has lagged behind partly due to its success with hybrids, such as the Prius, which combine gasoline engines and battery-powered motors.

Toyota, with its manufacturing expertise, and Idemitsu, which possesses material technologies, have set their sights on successfully commercializing all-solid-state batteries by 2027 or 2028, followed by full-scale mass production.

"With repeated efforts involving trial and error, we have succeeded in developing a material that is more stable and less prone to cracking," said Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato during a press conference in Tokyo, where he shook hands with his counterpart at Idemitsu.

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem