Lots of companies have been saying they have solid state EV batteries for years, yet you still can’t buy one. Either they can’t figure out how to mass produce them cost effectively or there is some sort of problem with the battery.
I think toyota actually plans on getting there in the next few years. I think the current and final hurdle; which I’m guessing a couple different companies about have a complete handle on is the prevention of dendrites forming and causing the batteries to go bad from multiple charge cycles.
Toyota wouldn’t be blowing fluff about having the batteries a few years away from production if they weren’t confident about it happening. That’s reserved for saying something is 7 to 10 years away.
I think it’s more likely that Toyota dropped the ball on not investing in EVs early, so that they felt the need to announce they were working on some thing in hopes of staying relevant.
I mean…. Really? Toyota kind of kicked off the whole EV shebang by introducing the first commercially successful hybrid in the Prius. And they’ve been innovating in the space ever since. Don’t mistake this for me believing they have a solid state battery right around the corner. But Japanese auto companies aren’t known for being on the forefront. They’re known for doing what everyone else does with better reliability and lower costs.