By 2028, Toyota might just rewrite the rules of electric performance. The Japanese automaker has confirmed that its long-awaited solid-state battery (SSB) technology will finally reach production—and the first car to wear this next-generation power source will be a high-performance EV.
For years, solid-state batteries have been the holy grail of electric mobility: smaller, lighter, and vastly more energy-dense than the lithium-ion packs powering today’s EVs. They promise dramatically longer range, faster charging, and less degradation over time—all while reducing the environmental toll of production and disposal.
Toyota’s been chasing this breakthrough for nearly a decade. Now, according to Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Engineering Development Centre, the company is “sticking on schedule” to put the first SSB-equipped model into production by 2027 or 2028.
“For the all-solid-state battery, the characteristic is high power, compact and long range,” Kaita said at the Tokyo motor show. “The cars will leverage these attributes.”
Why Solid-State Matters
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes, solid-state packs use a solid ceramic material to transfer ions between the electrodes. The payoff? More power and range in a smaller footprint, with the added benefits of improved safety and longevity.
Toyota claims its prototype SSB can triple driving range, double power output, and last four times longer than current EV batteries. The company has already tested packs capable of delivering up to 745 miles on a single charge—numbers that could make even today’s most efficient EVs seem obsolete overnight.
But range is only part of the story. The compact dimensions of SSBs allow engineers to rethink vehicle proportions entirely. With thinner floor-mounted packs, designers can lower rooflines and seating positions, reclaim interior space, and craft sleeker silhouettes that were once the sole domain of supercars.
A Supercar Launchpad
That’s why the first Toyota SSB model won’t be a commuter crossover—it’ll be a halo performance machine. All signs point to the upcoming Lexus electric supercar, a spiritual successor to the LFA, as the technology’s debut platform.
With an ultra-low stance and lightweight structure, the Lexus EV will reportedly serve as a battery-powered sibling to the V8-engined Toyota GR supercar that’s also in the works. If the rumors hold true, we could be looking at a dual-pronged attack from Toyota: one celebrating combustion’s last stand, and the other ushering in a new era of electric performance.
When pressed for details, Kaita played coy. “Whether it will be a Lexus or Toyota, we will leave that to your imagination,” he teased.
Greener, Longer, Smarter
The benefits of solid-state go beyond speed and range. According to Toyota, the technology could cut the total carbon footprint of an EV battery by up to 75%—thanks to longer lifespans and cleaner production processes.
“We will try to reduce the carbon footprint, and the key here is reducing the CO₂ output in manufacturing the material,” said Kaita. “But the most important thing is producing a battery whose life is longer.”
A longer-lasting pack not only means fewer replacements, but also less waste—a major step toward Toyota’s broader goal of carbon neutrality across the product life cycle.
The Road Ahead
Toyota’s chief technology officer, Hiroki Nakajima, confirmed that solid-state batteries could, in theory, slot into the company’s existing EV platforms—offering the same range in half the space. However, he hinted that SSBs will shine brightest in new, dedicated architectures designed to fully exploit their advantages.
Meanwhile, for more mainstream models, Toyota is developing a next-gen lithium-ion battery with a lower height and innovative packaging. This version, showcased in the sleek Corolla EV concept, helps lower the center of gravity while freeing up interior volume—proof that efficiency and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Toyota’s patient, methodical approach to solid-state batteries might finally pay off. If the company can deliver on its promise—a high-performance EV with 700+ miles of range, supercar agility, and long-term sustainability—it won’t just be catching up to Tesla or Porsche. It’ll be redefining what an electric vehicle can be.
And if the first car to carry that technology happens to wear a Lexus badge, we may be witnessing not just a new battery, but the rebirth of Japan’s most iconic supercar spirit—this time, powered by electrons.
Source: Toyota