Featured Next Gen Toyota Hybrid Batteries to Arrive in 2027

No technical details from Toyota, but my guess is that they are expanding the bi-polar format used in the Jazz NiMH pack to Li-ion and the rest of line up.

Toyota's statement on performance is in reference to the battery. That does not automatically mean improved performance of the car. Designers could choose the leverage the new tech to reduce car cost at the expense of potential performance improvements.

 

Having a well-maintained, low-miles 2010, it crossed my mind, it's a good place to be, to let the new tech arrive, get implemented, bugs worked out. Be a "late adopter". Somewhat analogous to keeping a generous following distance. Rambling, I know. Posed the idea to Google AI.

On the other hand:

Elvis

 

who's making their batteries these days? the problem with waiting for tech is that you'll always be waiting.
does 2027 mean the new models this year?

 

Panasonic is/was their main supplier. Primeearth EV Energy is Toyota's inhouse supplier that started as a joint venture with Panasonic. I think that can be traced back to the early NiMH days.

"does 2027 mean the new models this year?"
Model year is an US construct. As a car company outside the US, Toyota's statement for 2017 starting likely is literal for that year. Now that doesn't mean the newer battery will be limited to newer models then.

Toyota will likely design them to be swappable with the packs currently in cars. It is how they did it with the NiMH and Li-ion hybrid packs. They even switched what a model came with for supply issues. So hybrids not do for a refresh or redesign could get the new battery as production ramps up. Expect them to show up in cars made in Japan first, though.

 

smaller/denser would be an improvement