During the recent inauguration of its new electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturing facility, Toyota made a commitment to offer enhanced range, quicker charging, and more affordable pricing for its next-gen electric vehicles. Toyota has now announced that its forthcoming EV models, scheduled for a 2026 release, will offer an impressive nearly 500-mile range.
During a technical briefing held in June, Toyota introduced a range of innovations aimed at boosting electric vehicle (EV) sales with its upcoming next-generation electric models. The company outlined plans for advanced batteries, aerodynamic enhancements, and manufacturing improvements. At the launch of its Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) factory, described as an organization dedicated to battery EVs rather than a physical plant, Toyota announced that production of its new EVs is slated to commence in 2026.
Toyota unveiled four cutting-edge battery technologies, including advancements in both liquid and solid-state electrolytes. The initial offering, known as Toyota’s Performance lithium-ion battery, will be the power source for new EVs starting in 2026. This battery promises an impressive cruising range of nearly 500 miles (800 km), achieved through enhanced aerodynamics and reduced weight.
Compared to the bZ4X, electric vehicles using the Performance battery will be 20% cheaper and provide rapid 20-minute charging. The second battery, the Popularisation Lithium Iron Phosphate, due in 2026-2027, focuses on affordability, offering a 20% increase in range (about 375 miles) while cutting costs by 40% compared to the bZ4X.
Toyota’s Ambitious Electric Vehicle Battery Advancements
Set to debut between 2027 and 2028, this battery incorporates a bipolar structure, Li-ion chemistry, and a high-nickel cathode, with expectations of delivering an additional 10% cost reduction compared to the Performance battery. Toyota has achieved a significant advancement in solid-state batteries, which has the potential to be a game-changer for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).
Their goal is to make these solid-state batteries commercially available by 2027-2028, offering an impressive range of approximately 620 miles (1,000 km) and ultrafast charging in under 10 minutes. Toyota is also working on further solid-state battery development, aiming to provide a range exceeding 745 miles (1,200 km).
Toyota is collaborating with the Space Division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to explore innovative approaches to enhance aerodynamics, including incorporating hypersonic technology used in rockets. In their pursuit of improved aerodynamic efficiency, Toyota is shifting its focus from optimizing just the drag coefficient (Cd) to considering also the frontal area. (CdA is Cd multiplied by the frontal area).
To achieve this, Toyota is actively developing flatter battery technology aimed at reducing the overall height of their vehicles. The current battery pack in the bZ4X stands at approximately 5.9 inches (150 mm) in height, but Toyota aims to shrink this dimension to around 4.7 inches (120 mm) or even as low as 3.9 inches (100 mm) in high-performance electric vehicles (EVs).
