Automotive Engineering - October 2021 - 12

TECHNOLOGY REPORT
dependable. That includes, he said, demonstrating
battery-system longevity and
durability that will be the foundation of
sustaining vehicle residual values.
For HEVs, he mentioned a new generation
of the company's longstanding
nickel-metal hydride chemistry with a
" bi-polar " design that is said to double
power density by consolidating the anode
and cathode structures on opposite
sides of the current collector. The layout
also markedly reduces the footprint of
the battery. Launching with the recently
revealed Aqua compact car, the battery
will be proliferated among other Toyota
HEVs, Maeda said.
The popular lithium-ion chemistry will
be used for PHEVs and EVs. Toyota is
working on a new generation of lithiumion
batteries with low-cost materials and
are cobalt- and nickel-free. The batteries
also will have advanced structures and
refined manufacturing processes, all with
the target of reducing current-day pervehicle
battery costs by 50% by 2030.
Toyota targets introduction of the newgeneration
lithium-ion battery " in the
second half " of this decade.
Meanwhile, Toyota also is developing
optimized vehicles based on learnings
from its 18 million-plus parc of alreadyproduced
electrified models. Those enhancements
target a 30% reduction of
vehicle power consumption (measured
in energy used per mile or kilometer),
improved regenerative braking and optimization
of thermal-management systems
and overall propulsion-system
efficiency and controls. Advanced power-control
units (PCUs) are in fact one
of the three technology pillars - along
with batteries and traction motors - on
which Toyota is focusing its electrification
research and development.
Safety, reliability paramount
Asked about flaring safety concerns
after General Motors' recall of its entire
Bolt EV production run because of potential
for battery fires, Maeda emphasized
that safety is a foundation precept
of all advanced-battery efforts. " What
Toyota values the most is to develop
batteries that its customers can use
with peace of mind, " he flatly stated. He
12 October 2021
New bi-polar nickel-metal hydride battery is more compact and energy-dense, imparting the
compact Aqua HEV with better performance and efficiency.
Innovations for Toyota's next-generation lithium-ion battery lead to a design pinnacle of solid state.
added that customers must believe vehicle
batteries are safe and that they
will not be an economic liability.
He said Toyota also hopes to guarantee
safety and battery longevity with
analytical testing techniques that include
extensive simulation and use of
artificial intelligence in what the company
said are industry-leading " countermeasures
by design " practices.
This advanced testing and analysis,
along with close integrated research and
development with its battery-development
partners will impart the high degree
of safety and robustness Toyota seeks for
its production-vehicle batteries.
Regarding the company's ongoing
efforts to volume-produce solid-state
lithium batteries, Maeda was circumspect,
saying that although Toyota recently obtained
licensing to test a prototype vehicle
powered by solid-state batteries, the
company continues to project introduction
in the latter half of the decade.
Solid-state batteries will enable faster
charging, improve energy output and
expand driving range. But among other
things, " we found that short service life
was an issue. To solve this and other issues,
we need to continue development,
mainly of solid electrolyte materials. "
He added that Toyota would prefer to
first launch solid-state batteries in HEVs.
Bill Visnic
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
BOTH IMAGES: TOYOTA

Automotive Engineering - October 2021

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