Toyota was reportedly considering a massive reboot of its EV strategy to compete with Tesla — after an initial reboot of its EV strategy — and putting EV projects like the Compact Cruiser on hold. Toyota has given us more of a look into what that shift will look like. Some numbers, like a potential 930 miles of range, will cause your eyes to pop.
Here’s what you need to know.
Toyota plans to build a lot more EVs.
A lineup of next-gen EVs will start a global rollout in 2026. Plans are for the brand to produce 1.7 million EVs per year by 2030, nearly half of the brand’s global production. That’s up from the 25,000 EVs Toyota sold globally in 2022.
Those EVs will feature next-gen batteries
Toyota will start rolling out its next-gen batteries in 2026 with a Performance version and a lower-cost Popularization version. The performance lithium-ion version will offer up to 621 miles of range, charge from 10-80 percent in 20 minutes or less and will be 20 percent cheaper to produce than the bZ4X batteries.
The Popularization version will use lithium iron phosphate rather than lithium-ion chemistry. It will offer 20 percent more range than the bZ4X (about 300 miles), be 40 percent cheaper to produce than the bZ4X batteries and charge from 10-80 percent in 30 minutes or less.
Toyota's solid-state batteries may be coming soon
Solid-state batteries may be the true game-changer for EVs. These batteries are far more energy dense than those used in current vehicles. Toyota says its aim is for the technology to reduce the size, weight and cost of batteries by half.
That could mean adding dramatically more range; Toyota has targeted around 744 miles of range and could eventually expand that to about 930 miles eventually. Another benefit to solid-state batteries is charging speed. Solid-state batteries don't get as hot and can support a higher charging speed. Toyota says its solid-state batteries would be able to do a full charge from 10-80% in less than 10 minutes (coming very close to gas refueling).
When will Toyota’s solid-state batteries arrive?
Toyota needs to demonstrate it can build a functional solid-state battery. That may happen soon. Toyota is now pouring its full might into battery development. They just announced a breakthrough that will simplify the production of the material it uses to make batteries. And the brand now believes it can make a 745-mile solid-state battery that can charge in less than 10 minutes.
Of course,- being able to do it is just the first step in the journey. Toyota also needs to be able to scale the process into production in vehicles that aren’t a pricey Lexus LFA replacement. According to the Financial Times, Toyota believes it may be able to mass-produce solid-state batteries as soon as 2027.
