Toyota is allegedly planning to release its first all-electric production vehicle in 2022 and plans to make it like no other.
The Chunichi Shimbun daily newspaper reports that Toyota’s future EV will use advanced solid-state batteries and be capable of being recharged in just a matter of minutes. Additionally, sources state that the vehicle will use a bespoke platform and have a class-leading all-electric range.
The automaker is said to be preparing to initially launch the vehicle in Japan in 2022. Speaking to Reuters, a Toyota spokesman denied to comment on the report.
Toyota, an outspoken doubter of electric vehicles and proponent of hydrogen fuel cells, made a backflip last year by announcing that alongside its hydrogen vehicles, it would start development of an EV due to current market trends.
If the firm’s EV was to use solid-state batteries, it would signify a major departure from the lithium-ion batteries currently used in electric vehicles. Not only are solid-state batteries safer, but they also offer greater energy density and unrivalled recharge times. Hyundai is believed to have already established pilot-scale production facilities for solid-state batteries and is rapidly developing them.
Note: Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid pictured
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