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Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are at the center of the most significant technological leap in electric vehicle (EV) energy storage as of 2025, promising to overcome the limitations of today’s lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with breakthroughs in range, charging speed, and safety.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
As of 2025, this is the current state of SSB science, global supply chain dynamics, and the environmental implications of sourcing critical materials like lithium and sulfur-a pivotal shift as the industry prioritizes Scope 2 and 3 emission reductions.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
Unlike conventional LIBs, which use flammable liquid electrolytes, SSBs employ solid ceramic or polymer electrolytes, enabling much higher energy density, rapid charging, and greater thermal stability.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
In an SSB, lithium ions move through a solid electrolyte during charging and discharging cycles. When charging, lithium ions travel from the cathode through the solid electrolyte and are stored in the anode, often made of lithium metal.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
Toyota’s SSB research focuses on sulfide-based solid electrolytes, which offer high ionic conductivity and compatibility with lithium-metal anodes. The company has achieved energy densities of approximately 1,000 Wh/L in prototypes, a 40% improvement over current LIBs.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
Toyota’s sulfide electrolytes use abundant sulfur, reducing reliance on conflict minerals like cobalt. By contrast, conventional NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) batteries depend on environmentally destructive mining practices, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (cobalt) and Indonesia (nickel).
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
“I want to change the future of car-making through Toyota’s skill. To achieve this, we need to evolve the monozukuri strengths that only Toyota possesses through the fusion of skills/technology and digital & innovative technologies, and to shorten lead times, to be agile and continually take on challenges.” – Kazuaki Shingo, Chief Production Officer, Toyota.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.
Photo: Toyota Newsroom.