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Automaker Toyota and Japanese oil group Idemitsu Kosan reached a deal late last week to develop large-scale solid-state batteries. This new technology, according to Toyota, will eventually allow electric cars to travel 1,500 kilometers on a full battery and fully recharge in just 10 minutes.

Interestingly, Idemitsu Kosan is Japan's second-largest oil refinery. But according to Toyota, the group has been developing crucial technologies that can be used in the new generation of batteries since 2001. Toyota has been betting on this new type of battery since 2006.

More energy, fast charging

Specifically, Idemitsu has been working on developing a new material that can be used in sulfur batteries. This type of battery is still in its infancy, but experts say it is promising. Sulfur batteries are light and have the potential to store much more energy than the well-known lithium-ion batteries. They also do not use rare resources extracted from politically unstable areas, such as cobalt that comes mainly from the Congo.

Fire-safe, but costly

Toyota wants to combine Idemitsu's knowledge with its own ambition to develop sulfur-solid batteries. Electric vehicles today feature lithium-ion batteries, which have a liquid electrolyte. But that liquid electrolyte is flammable, so lithium-ion batteries still carry risk. A solid-state battery works with a solid electrolyte. So in addition to being potentially more efficient, a solid-state battery is also more fire-safe.

Although the technology seems promising, making this type of battery is currently very expensive. Another problem is that the electrodes risk becoming loose after a certain number of charge cycles, rendering a battery worthless.

2027 first solid-state batteries on the market

Toyota and Idemitsu plan to scale up their collaboration in three phases. And that is a long-term project. Over the next few years, both parties will continue to develop the technology until all components are scalable and affordable. In 2027 or 2028, the new batteries will roll off the assembly line from an initial pilot plant. Only if the initial rollout is successful will scaling up to mass production begin.

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