Toyota may have licked the exploding lithium-ion battery problem

By Bruce Brown Published October 31, 2016

Lithium-ion batteries in smoking and exploding Samsung Note 7s have gotten a lot of attention and raised concerns about using the power storage technology in other applications. Now Toyota Motor Corporation engineers claim to have figured out how to make lithium-ion batteries for electric cars that are smaller, more powerful, and most of all, safer, according to Reuters.

Because of safety concerns, Toyota used nickel-metal hydride batteries in previous Prius models except for one very early version. The newly announced Prius Prime, however, uses the new design lithium-ion batteries. In the United States, Prius Prime hybrids should have an electric power only range of about 25 miles.

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Toyota’s chief engineer for the Prius, Koji Toyoshima told Reuters, “It’s a tall order to develop a lithium-ion car battery which can perform reliably and safely for 10 years, or over hundreds of thousands of kilometers. We have double braced and triple braced our battery pack to make sure they’re fail-safe. … It’s all about safety, safety, safety.”

Toyota’s new lithium-ion battery packs have 95 cells. The company has developed control technology that tracks the temperature and condition of each cell.

Toyota senior engineer Hiroaki Takeuchi said, “Our control system can identify even slight signs of a potential short-circuit in individual cells, and will either prevent it from spreading or shut down the entire battery.”

According to Takeuchi, Toyota’s battery production facilities aren’t exactly like semiconductor clean room, “but very close.” Lithium-ion batteries can short-circuit, overheat, and even explode if microscopic metal particles or other impurities are introduced.

In a further L-i battery development, Toyota has reduced the distance between battery anodes and cathode, the ion path during charging and discharging. The result of that improvement is battery packs that have twice the power without doubling in size and weight.

Toyota doesn’t have all-electric models at this time. “Developing lithium-ion batteries for both hybrids and plug-ins will enable us to also produce all-electric cars in the future,” said Toyoshima.

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Bruce Brown Contributing Editor As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.