On Wednesday, Toyota unveiled a Lexus concept car, the LF-ZC, with an approximately 1,000-kilometer range that it aims to roll out by 2026, part of the Japanese automaker’s strategic pivot to EVs reliant on advanced battery technology.
The LF-ZC concept car, which debuted at the Japan Mobility Show, utilizes “prismatic, high-performance” batteries that achieve about twice the range of conventional EVs — or around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
Toyota Chief Branding Officer Simon Humphries said at a press briefing introducing the concept model, “The key to achieving these breakthroughs is parts minimalization and reduction across the board, including smaller, more efficient batteries with more power and more range.”
The world’s top-selling automaker revealed in June an ambitious plan to ramp up battery EVs, including the launch of the next-generation lithium-ion batteries that deliver longer ranges and quicker charging.
It also said it had reached a “breakthrough” in overcoming issues previously identified with the durability of solid-state batteries. It seeks to sell vehicles powered by solid-state batteries — considered a probable “game changer” for the industry because of their range and performance — by 2027 or 2028.
The low-sitting LF-ZC sports an expansive cockpit and uses advanced AI technology that Toyota has dubbed “Butler”. The AI system can identify preferences that drivers may not be aware of themselves, Toyota said.
Toyota has committed to holding battery EVs account for 100 percent of global sales of the luxury Lexus brand by 2035.
