BMW chasing Toyota to commercialise Solid State Batteries for EVs

BMW is partnering with US EV battery maker Solid Power to develop the next generation of solid state batteries for electric cars.

Solid State batteries have been touted as the major breakthrough needed in battery technology to make electric cars mainstream, and they look to be close to being commercially viable.

Toyota has been working on the technology – which promises lower cost, greater range and quicker charging – for the past decade, and have revealed they expect their solid state batteries to arrive in the early 2020s.

The expectation is that Toyota’s solid state batteries will deliver a 600 mile range from a battery pack smaller than the current lithium-ion batteries, not need complicated cooling and heating and will recharge far quicker.

Not only Toyota though, as it seems almost certain that James Dyson’s electric cars – when they arrive – will boast solid state battery technology too.

Now it’s BMW’s turn to try and push in the same direction, and Reuters are reporting they’ve partnered with US car battery firm Solid State to develop solid state batteries for commercial use in high powered EVs.

A partnership now to develop solid state batteries for BMW almost certainly means Toyota will be well ahead of the curve if it does deliver on its promise in just a few years, but solid state does look like it’s going to be a reality very soon.

If so, that really will be the proper tipping point for the acceptance of EVs as a real world alternative to ICE cars.