After announcing an initial green car partnership last year, BMW AG and Toyota Motor Corp. have begun joint research into next-generation batteries for plug-in electric cars.
The two auto giants will try to increase the performance and capacity of lithium-ion battery cells through the use of new combinations of materials for cathodes, anodes and electrolytes.
In addition to the collaborative research agreement between BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corp., Toyota Motor Europe and BMW Group entered into a contract—also announced on December 1, 2011—under which BMW Group is to supply highly efficient 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe starting in 2014.