Featured Toyota pulls forward electrification plan, eyes solid-state battery next year

June 7, 2019 TOKYO -- Toyota is ramping up electric vehicle deployment plans, pulling forward its goal of selling 5.5 million electrified vehicles by five years and aiming to develop a solid-state battery by next summer (i.e. summer 2020) as it races to meet a "sudden surge" of EV popularization.

Executive Vice President Shigeki Terashi, Toyota's r&d chief, outlined the new roadmap in a June 7 briefing about the company's EV plans.

"If possible, by the time we have the Olympic games next year, we would like to make sure that a solid-state battery can be unveiled to the public," Terashi said.

Indeed, Terashi cited a "sudden surge" in their popularization for revising the EV rollout.

"Progress has surpassed the target," Terashi said. "We have entered a new age."

Terashi said, adding that a new approach was crucial. "Unless we work on this at a very accelerated manner, we will not be able to ensure our future survival."

Note: Terashi has been head of Advanced R&D for Toyota since January 2018.

Note: Toyota is engaging in a new business model re: electric vehicles. EV C.A. Spirit Corp., is a nine-company consortium led by Toyota to develop and share components for electric vehicles. Other members include Subaru, Mazda, Suzuki and Daihatsu.

Toyota pulls forward electrification plan, eyes solid-state battery next year