Toyota to upgrade hybrid battery production for 600,000 vehicles

Toyota is expanding its lithium-ion battery production capacity to support its growing hybrid vehicle lineup. By 2027–2028, the manufacturer plans to repurpose existing capacity to provide enough next-generation hybrid batteries for approximately 600,000 vehicles.

The initiative focuses on two primary objectives: improving performance and reducing costs. For self-charging hybrids, the technical priority is high power density—the ability to rapidly absorb energy during braking and release it during acceleration—rather than sheer storage capacity. This is expected to be achieved by reducing internal resistance through optimized materials and increased active electrode surfaces.

This strategic shift follows significant growth in hybrid sales. Toyota and Lexus reported 4.58 million hybrid sales in 2023, with projections reaching 5.03 million this year. The company aims to leverage its experience with bipolar structures, which it has utilized in nickel-metal hydride batteries since 2021, to enhance its new lithium-ion units.