BMW And Toyota To Crank Up EV Battery Research

BMW and Toyota Motor Corporation announced they have decided to team up and have signed a collaborative research agreement for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are a core component for EVs and hybrid vehicles, and lots of time and effort around the world is being put into battery research. Better batteries mean EVs with longer driving range and hybrid cars that are more efficient.

BMW and Toyota have already begun the research and this agreement follows a previous memorandum of understanding for medium to long-term collaboration on next generation environmentally friendly vehicles announced in December of 2011. The two carmakers will focus on increasing the performance and capacity of lithium-ion battery cells using new material combinations for the cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes.

BMW and Toyota's European subsidiary have also entered into a contract that was announced in December of last year that will see BMW supply efficient 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter diesel engines for Toyota starting in 2014. BMW has a long history of making small and efficient diesel engines, and we may see some of them used in Toyota and BMW hybrids in the future.