Toyota Working on New Zinc-Air Battery Technology

There was a lot of rumors that Toyota is behind General Motors in the race to adopt lithium-ion batteries as the future battery of the hybrid vehicle market.

And even so lithium ion batteries haven't even hit mass production for hybrid and electric vehicles. But Toyota is already eyeing a new generation zinc-air batteries with twice the energy storage.

The goal is a battery that can run 80 kilometers (50 miles) on a single battery charge from a home outlet, Japan's Nikkan Kogyo newspaper reported. Toyota Motor Corp. wants to commercialize the battery in 2020, it said.

Toyota’s hybrids on sale now use nickel-metal-hydride batteries.

The Japanese automaker could not confirm the report. But bringing out a next-generation battery is part of the company's Global Vision 2020 long-term strategy plan. Toyota wants a hybrid in each model line by the 2020s and will have to ramp up battery output to get there.(read more)

Details about the next-generation battery technology are still under wraps. But Toyota sees staying ahead in power storage as the key to keeping its lead in hybrid vehicles.

The introduction of lithium ion batteries is seen as a breakthrough for hybrid and electric vehicles. The batteries, which have yet to be mass produced, are lighter and pack more energy than the nickel-metal hydride batteries that are currently the industry norm.

Toyota plans to use lithium ion batteries in a new plug-in hybrid vehicle due by 2010.

[Source: Automotive News - Subscription required]