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Toyota and Sumitomo Metal advance cathode material for solid state batteries

Toyota and Sumitomo Metal Mining announced on Wednesday that they had made progress in the development and production of cathode material for all-solid state batteries for electric vehicles.

Solid-state batteries promise improved safety, longer life and faster charging than conventional lithium-ion battery that uses flammable liquids as electrolytes.

The cost of manufacturing, the complexity of raw materials and their availability are all factors that have a large impact on mass adoption.

Toyota, the largest automaker in terms of sales, plans to introduce EVs using all-solid state batteries by 2027 or 2028.

Sumitomo Metal, a Japanese company that specializes in powder synthesis, has developed a cathode with 'high durability'.

Their statement stated that they will work to improve the performance, safety, and quality of cathode material, as well as reduce costs. They also added that their goal is to make the first use of solid-state batteries for EVs in the real world.

A spokesperson for the company said that Sumitomo Metal intends to begin mass production of its newly developed cathode material as soon as April 2028.

The spokesperson stated that "we will prioritise supplying Toyota and then respond flexible to the market demand."

Toyota and Idemitsu Kosan are also working together on solid-state batteries. The oil refiner is developing another important material, lithium sulfuride. (Reporting and editing by Edwina G. Gibbs; Yuka Obayashi)

(source: Reuters)