Japanese automaker Toyota and energy company Idemitsu to cooperate on EV battery technology

By YURI KAGEYAMA
AP Business Writer

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s top automaker Toyota and Idemitsu, a major oil company, say they will cooperate on technology for mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in future electric vehicles. The deal, announced Thursday, is an important step for Toyota, which has promised to speed up its battery EV offerings and catch up after having fallen behind Tesla and China’s BYD. The companies said they are aiming for successful commercialization of all-solid-state batteries in 2027 or 2028, followed by full-scale mass production. Lithium-ion batteries are now commonly used in electric vehicles. Solid-state batteries are more stable and more powerful.