Japanese automaker Toyota is planning to boost the production of lithium ion batteries for deployments in its Prius gasoline-electric hybrid sedan.
Currently, Toyota's majority of hybrid vehicles deploy nickel-metal hydride batteries while, it plans to increase lithium-ion battery deployment in its vehicles as they can be made smaller and lighter, thus improving fuel economy.
According to the Nikkei, Toyota has collaborated with Panasonic to build a new production line with an investment of about $194m, which would increase lithium-ion battery output capacity to 200,000 units per year.
During initial 2012, Toyota and BMW collaborated to develop next-generation batteries for EVs known as 'lithium-air',, while the collaboration is also aimed at completing a concept for a mid-size sports car by the end of 2013 and a fuel-cell vehicle system by 2020.
The lithium-air battery would enable majority of the energy to be generated from the oxygen in air and is also claimed to be more powerful compared to the existing lithium-ion batteries.
