Toyota and Idemitsu Partner to Establish a Global Benchmark for Solid-State Battery Technology
Idemitsu Kosan and Toyota, two global leaders in all-solid-state battery and sulfide solid electrolyte technology, have announced a collaboration to mass produce these game-changing batteries for the next generation of electric vehicles (EVs). The partnership, set to begin in 2028, aims to deliver safer, more efficient, and higher-performance solid-state batteries suitable for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
The benefits of all-solid-state batteries for BEVs are substantial. They offer a higher energy density, enabling longer driving ranges for electric vehicles. Moreover, they use a solid electrolyte instead of liquid, significantly reducing the risks of leaks and fires. Additionally, these batteries maintain capacity over more charge cycles, improving their longevity, and their faster charging times are due to the potential for improved ion transport. Furthermore, resource efficiency is a key advantage, with innovations in raw material supply aiming to reduce resource consumption and improve sustainability in battery production.
This collaboration integrates the entire process, from materials to finished batteries, to eliminate rework during the development process. It brings together Idemitsu's expertise in battery materials, notably lithium sulfide, Toyota's automotive manufacturing, and Idemitsu's materials manufacturing technology. The goal is to establish the global standard for all-solid-state batteries and help Toyota lead the EV market with more reliable, safer, and higher-performance solid-state battery-powered vehicles starting in the late 2020s.
Idemitsu's interest in battery technologies dates back to the oil crisis in the 1970s, when the company conducted research into alternative energies and materials. Sulfur components, byproducts of the petroleum production process, were discovered to be useful in the mid-1990s, sparking the research that led to this partnership. The collaboration aims to develop mass production technologies for solid electrolytes to improve productivity and establish a supply chain.
President Sato believes this collaboration is crucial for boosting the international competitiveness of Japan's industry by pursuing continued improvement and speeding up collaboration. Idemitsu has been working with Toyota since 2013 to overcome the drawback of battery durability in all-solid-state batteries. The results of this research can be seen in several businesses today.
Toyota aims to commercialize the technology with BEVs slated for release in 2027-28. However, challenges remain, such as the constant cycle of expansion and contraction during charging and discharging, which may cause cracks between the solid electrolyte and the cathode/anode, degrading performance in all-solid-state batteries. Despite these challenges, the collaboration between Idemitsu and Toyota is focused on sulfide solid electrolytes, which hold the potential for high battery capacity and output.
On October 12, Idemitsu Kosan and Toyota announced this collaboration, a significant step towards a more sustainable and efficient future for electric vehicles.
- The collaboration between Idemitsu Kosan and Toyota, hailing from key industries such as energy, technology, and finance, aims to revolutionize the automotive business by mass producing all-solid-state batteries, offering benefits like longer driving ranges, reduced fire risks, improved longevity, and faster charging times for electric vehicles.
- The partnership between Idemitsu, proficient in battery materials and materials manufacturing technology, and Toyota, an automotive manufacturing powerhouse, is focused on sulfide solid electrolytes, a technology with potential for high battery capacity and output, crucially contributing to Japan's attempt to boost its international competitiveness in the energy sector.
