Is it time for "hard" batteries?

Toyota already has a working prototype with such batteries, but admits problems still exist.

Japanese giant Toyota has a working prototype of an electric vehicle powered by solid electrolyte batteries that manufacturers dream of, executive vice president Keiji Kaita confirmed. Company even plans a limited series production of such machines around 2025.but Kaita admits the technology is not yet ready for mainstream use.

Solid electrolyte batteries are considered by many to be the best solution to the main problem of modern electric vehicles - the excessive weight and relatively low energy density of liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries.

"Hard" batteries charge much faster, have a higher energy density and keep the charge longer. A car with a similar battery will have significantly more mileage per charge than a car with a lithium-ion battery of the same weight. Toyota was gearing up to show a working prototype at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, but it has been delayed until next year due to the coronavirus.

However, the Japanese have not yet solved all the problems that accompany this technology. The main ones are very short service life and high sensitivity to impacts and impacts. Toyota and partner Panasonic hope to overcome this with new materials. They currently rely on a sulfur-based electrolyte. However, the charging and discharging cycle itself leads to its deformation.reduced battery life. Competitor Samsung, which also works with solid electrolyte batteries, is experimenting with composite silver and carbon anodes that are less resistant to deformation.

Manufacturing is also a problem. In its current form "Hard" batteries must be manufactured in extremely dry conditions, which forces Toyota to use isolated chambers.in which workers work in rubber gloves. However, this would be difficult to apply in high volume production.

The prototype of the ultra-compact city car shown by Toyota last year. Probably, such models will be the first serial installation of solid electrolyte batteries.

Toyota has long ignored battery-powered cars and preferred to highlight parallel hybrids as a means of reducing emissions. However, due to changes in legislation in China and the EU in recent years, the company is rapidly developing electrical technology and is preparing to introduce its first all-electric crossover (along with Subaru).