Many people on social media are not happy with the current state of alternatives to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. This could be because the 2030 ban on ICEs will force people to switch to new cars for which comparable alternatives don’t currently exist. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be comparable alternatives in the future.

Toyota is working on next-generation battery technology that will be available in three years. This new tech will offer a range of up to 620 miles, reduce cost by 20%, and have a charging time of 20 minutes or less.

For the past couple of decades, engineering consultants, research bodies, and car manufacturers’ R&D departments have been working on technology roadmaps for more efficient engine technologies. The goal has always been to make cars more environmentally friendly, and the message has consistently been that there is no single solution.

Back then, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were seen as only suitable for city driving, and no one predicted how quickly they would improve. Now, drivers expect BEVs to be a like-for-like replacement for ICE cars without any compromises in terms of refuelling time, range, or charging infrastructure.

However, technology has been advancing faster than expected, and it’s possible that in the next 15 years, today’s EVs will be considered outdated. Toyota’s work on battery technology is a prime example of how quickly development is progressing. Despite the initial financial losses of the Prius, Toyota continued to invest and gain valuable knowledge in battery development.

Earlier this year, Toyota announced plans to introduce a new next-generation lithium battery by 2026. This battery will power the next-generation BEVs, which will be built from the ground up with a modular structure divided into three sections: front, centre, and rear. The battery will be housed in the centre section, allowing for easy upgrades as battery technology progresses.

Toyota’s next-generation BEVs will come in two versions. The performance version will have a range of 620 miles and charge in under 30 minutes. The popularisation version will offer a 20% increase in range compared to existing batteries, charge in less than 30 minutes, and cost 40% less than current technology.