Toyota showcases new tech

Toyota has given a group of journalists a peek at some of the technology it is developing as it seeks to ramp up the electrification of its models.

The carmaker took the party on a tour of three factories in Aichi Prefecture, near its headquarters in the city of Toyota, this month to demonstrate processes that aim to help it expand production of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

It follows a similar demonstration to customers, suppliers and investors in June, reports Bloomberg.

During the journalists’ visit, Toyota detailed plans to commercialise solid-state batteries, deliver 10 new electric models and sell 1.5 million BEVs annually by 2026.

Engineers at the marque’s Teiho plant told the group about advances in developing bipolar, liquid iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which Toyota aims to introduce in 2026 or 2027.

The company claims such batteries will improve range by 20 per cent, reduce costs by 40 per cent and charge to 80 per cent full in 30 minutes or less.

Reporters also got to witness how a massive cast can use melted aluminium to create large sections of a vehicle’s chassis. The method at Toyota’s Myochi plant will eventually be supplemented by a so-called gigacast, which allows an EV chassis to be built in three parts versus the hundreds of components needed to build each section in current models.

A plant in Motomachi plant was the last stop on the tour and provided insight into plans to create a self-propelled BEV assembly line, according to the Bloomberg report.

Because EVs won’t produce noxious fumes and endanger factory workers, the plan is for the vehicles to drive themselves through production once they are fitted with a motor and a set of wheels. 

Toyota says this will reduce upfront plant investments and improve the flexibility of assembly lines.