Toyota & Idemitsu Announce Plans to Mass Produce All-Solid-State Batteries for BEVs

Toyota Motor Corporation and Japan's Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. have entered into an agreement to work together establish and achieve the mass production of all-solid-state batteries for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Through this collaboration, the two companies will seek to ensure the commercialisation of all-solid-state batteries in 2027-28.

This collaboration focuses on sulfide solid electrolytes, which are seen as a promising material to achieve high capacity and output for BEVs.

Sulfide solid electrolytes are characterised by softness and adhesiveness to other materials, which is suitable for battery mass production.

Idemitsu has been working on research & development on elemental technologies for all-solid-state batteries since 2001, while Toyota started in 2006.

Idemitsu is a Japanese petroleum company that owns and operates oil platforms, refineries, produces and sells petroleum, oils and petrochemical products,

Koji Sato, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation, says: "To steadily move subsequent market introduction forward, we will establish a task force of dozens of people, including those from technology, procurement, logistics, and production technology, and we will jointly promote our efforts. We will also combine our two companies' materials development technology, Idemitsu's materials manufacturing technology, and Toyota's battery mass production technology in a full-scale effort to mass-produce solid-state batteries."

Shunichi Kito, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. adds: "Idemitsu is making every effort to implement a wide variety of materials, energy, and resource circulation solutions toward realizing a carbon-neutral society. With our existing infrastructure and networks of service stations, refineries, and business offices throughout Japan, our initiatives are built on the knowledge and technology we have developed through our fossil fuel business."

Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.