To help further the company’s development of batteries for battery electric vehicles, Toyota is building a new battery lab in Michigan and expanding the company’s electrified vehicle development capability here in the United States.
The lab, to be built at the company’s R & D headquarters in York Township, Michigan, is a $50 million project to evaluate batteries for electric and electrified vehicles.
“This new investment in our North American R & D operation, which has been a key pillar of the Michigan automotive industry for more than 50 years, shows Toyota’s directional shift toward electrification for all,” said Shinichi Yasui, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America, Research and Development.
We’ve highlighted here before the company isn’t only focused on electric vehicles, but hybrids and plug-in hybrids. The company’s strategy differs from some of its competitors, but this facility will support Toyota’s efforts, regardless of which way the company goes.
Additionally, the battery lab will have advanced testing equipment to test level 2 and level 3 charging performance, technology for connecting to power infrastructure, and more.
The Michigan lab will support Toyota’s manufacturing processes for plants in both North Carolina and Kentucky.
“With increasing production for electrification coming to North America, it’s important to have local supporting infrastructure, but more importantly it enables us to invest in team members and technology development,” said Jordan Choby, Group Vice President of Powertrain at TMNA R & .
The lab is expected to open sometime in 2025.
