Toyota develops new battery technology
August 19, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Toyota has announced yesterday that it has developed a new battery technology that will greatly improve the storage capacity of its next generation lithium-ion batteries.
Japan’s Nikkei newspaper said that although Toyota is quiet on the details of this new technology the manufacturer did say the improvement stems from the production of single crystals of lithium cobalt oxide which theoretically could improve battery capacity ten fold.
If this is the case Toyota could potentially set the stage for EVs with a 1600 kilometre plus range.
Additionally, the new technology is said to weigh less and take up less space than lithium-ion batteries currently under development.
Toyota jointly developed the new lithium-ion technology with Japan’s Tohoku University.
If successful we expect to see production use of this technology in both hybrid and plug-in EVs by around 2015.
CarAdvice is currently road testing the new Prius against its advertised rival, the Mini D. Stay tuned!
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Nice work Toyota. Batteries like this will definitely fill the gap until Hydrogen takes off. Or will it be sold side by side with Hydrogen in the future similar to diesel/petrol?
We may see Hydrogen/Electric Hybrids BUT if the tech can get 1600k per charge and from then they continue to improve on the tech, Hydrogen may never have a chance! and the days of the service station will be a thing of the past! :) i for one welcome this change!
Well, it seems Toyota have started gold plating their regular batteries. Not many of their standard batteries are under $2000 (not inc GST) these days. Typical Toyota contempt-for-the-user mentality, straight out of the Apple business model handbook. I would hate to know how much they are charging for one of these batteries when the time comes to replace it.
The progress is exciting but what I fear is the likes of Toyota owning the intellectual property. They would like to keep it for themselves or charge hefty royalties for others to produce them.
Hopefully with so much competition for better batteries, the other big manufacturers will also end up with a quality product. And no one will own patents on the technology – with a little luck!
Imagine 1600kms from 1 charge!
We can’t get this tech to the market quick enough.
I dream of the day where oil is only used to grease the gearbox and axles!
yay … does this mean that i wont have to carry around those 4c vouchers to save a few bucks at the petrol pump!? hehehe
that’s great, good on ya toyota but making a van look sporty O.o why even bother
its probably 20 year old techonology,buried by the oil barons.stand by for much more of this news….
Nah, Absi – you’ll be using your vouchers to pay for electricity instead of petrol at your local BP/Shell ;-)
Excellent technology, but practically I can’t see home-based charging system able to put enough charge into a battery capable of storing enough energy to cart around a tonne++ of metal 1600kms in any reasonable length of time, so they better start making charging stations ready now for the influx of plug in vehicles with big batteries (and Coles needs to start printing 4c/KwH discount vouchers)…
JEKYL & HYDE,
Took the words wright out of my mouth. No doubt some mad scientist came up with this around the same time mobile phones and microwave ovens. Profit first every time. Darn you oil barons!!!!!!!!!
Is it just me, or dose the Prius look different to any model out?
That Prius pictured above looks like a LWB version of that green Chevy from Transformers. This is not a good thing.
Give credit were credit is simply due….top effort Toyota!
Naughtyius, credit where credit is due? Toyota’s top Marketing VP recently gave GM a tongue lashing for using Li-Ion batteries in the Volt while it’s Prius uses NiMH that were ‘much safer’ and ‘more efficient’. Where he is getting these figures from is beyond me, but more importantly, Toyota is still using NiMH batteries which are bigger, heavier and have less energy density.
Sorry Maximus, but no. No credit for Toyota.
Is that Toyota pictured the Prius concept? Cos the wheels look pretty boring for a concept.
……..but with an uglier face!
HOLY fridge magnets, how the BLEEEP did they manage to make the Prius even UGLIER. I thought that couldn’t be possible. But once again Toyota’s design team prove me wrong
Wow the new prius actually looks …….nice compared to this. But still wouldnt lay down my hard earned on one of these. MIght buy myself a new fridge with a TV in it. would look nicer than a prius and would emit less.
Once again toyota leads and once again other’s will follow! So much for the GM volt and there 100+mpg!
I will believe it when they start selling it.
The battery technology described in this report would be world changing in it’s impact.
Come on!! A “ten fold” battery capacity increase while being lighter would change everything.
Can I get 1 of those batteries for my drill, oh and my phone, sick to god of charging useless bludy batteries.
Oh yeah, can I get some for my sons battery operated toys, if so I will get them out of the cupboard, bludy batteries !
My missus has just asked if she can have some of those longer lasting batteries too, not sure what she might need them for though ?
Couldn’t resist saying this Lil Red, but I think the answer to your question is a word starting with ‘v’.
KIA are already using those style batteries in the Forte LPI Hybrid.
With all their technology you would think that they can make the car look better.
Toyota would sell more cars they werent so ugly! And it doesnt cost much to hire a good designer these days! Look at the front of Fiat Punto :-) or back of i30 or the Mazda 6 from any angle!
… and welcome nuclear power plants :)
It’s a good achievement, but why keep it quiet?
Hmmmm…..maybe it’s still at infant stage and everything looks good on paper.
Toyota also needs to explain why batteries (even these long distance ones) would be more environmental friendly.