Toyota, a leading automotive company, has announced a significant investment of nearly $50 million in a state-of-the-art battery laboratory. The facility will be constructed at Toyota Motor North America’s (TMNA) research and development headquarters in York Township and is set to commence operations in 2025.
According to Shinichi Yasui, Vice President at TMNA Research and Development, this substantial investment reflects Toyota’s strategic shift towards electrification. The primary objective of the new laboratory is to assess the development of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) at various stages, from cell to package. This initiative aims to support Toyota’s battery plant in North Carolina and the recently announced production of battery-electric SUVs in Kentucky. In 2021, Toyota had already disclosed investments in EV production and development, including the establishment of a new company in the United States to promote local battery production.
Yasui further explained that by incorporating crucial evaluation capabilities related to automotive batteries, the team at the new battery laboratory will be better equipped to meet the requirements of customers, including Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, where the assembly of a newly announced three-row battery-electric SUV is on the horizon.
The lab’s responsibilities will extend beyond battery development and encompass collaboration with North American suppliers to integrate locally sourced battery components and materials. Additionally, the facility will assess charging infrastructure and upgrade chassis dynamometers at Toyota’s research and development sites in York Township and Ann Arbor to facilitate the evaluation of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
In addition to their focus on current battery production, Toyota’s engineers will explore novel battery configurations for future products. These innovations may contribute to the development of new electrified vehicle architectures and other advancements.
Toyota remains open to the possibility of expanding the scope of the battery laboratory in the future to accommodate additional tasks and competencies. This flexibility is aimed at supporting the evolving needs of the battery and BEV ecosystem.