Toyota and Panasonic are teaming up on batteries that Toyota itself and other automakers could use in future electric cars. Rather than building cylindrical batteries like the type that Tesla and other EV makers use, the two companies are exploring the development of "prismatic" cells. Those are square, flat batteries with aluminum housings and are typically used in cell phones. They can be made smaller and lighter than battery packs that use cylindrical cells, but tend to cost more and are vulnerable to overheating and swelling. Toyota recently unveiled plans, working with Mazda and Suzuki, to launch a new lineup of EVs starting in around 2020. Toyota and Panasonic won't have to deal with thorny issues like battery chemistry to make better prismatic cells, which are already used on the Bolt and other vehicles. Rather, they'll just have to use their engineering and research chops to refine them so that they're cheaper, safer and more reliable. The payoff could be longer-range, faster-charging and lighter or smaller EVs. Toyota and Panasonic explore 'prismatic' EV batteries together Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
The Gen-1 Prius and subsequent one used prismatic batteries. Your PIP and my Prime too. Also my BMW i3-REx. I posted some engineering porn showing how the are made in Other cars. Bob Wilson
Uh, we are PriusChat and are pretty well aware of what is going on in our technology. FYI, Weber U. did a great video on the Gen-4 battery and covered the Prime battery too. Bob Wilson
you maybe aware of what is going on, but i don't have a clue. and reading the article suggests that they don't either.
I thought Tesla was the only one using cylinderical cells. I believe the gen1 had cylinderical cells until the refresh. So only the very first Japan only model. The news is about Panasonic and Toyota expanding the partnership they already have. This, and the one about them teaming up for BEV batteries, is more about publicity in my opinion.
That's what I thought as well. Solid state around 2022-2023? I think that the only real challenge with SS batteries is their longevity, IIRC.
It sounds obvious but I assume there's also a cost issue?? Yeah maybe SS isn't as soon as Toyota would like and is pushing prismatic even further as a stopgap measure.
