Toyota has opened the Toyota Battery Center of North America in Saline, Michigan. The 30,000ft² facility evaluates and develops batteries for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen and battery-electric vehicles, supports Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and North American plants, and opens research access to the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center.
Toyota Motor North America, which is headquartered in Plano, Texas, has opened the Toyota Battery Center of North America (TBC) in Saline, Michigan. The 30,000ft² (2,787m²) facility evaluates and develops battery technology.
The center gives Toyota’s Michigan-based battery teams capabilities across the full battery development cycle, from raw-material sourcing through customer applications to recycling. Engineers and technicians on site assess battery performance and develop technologies for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen and fully electric vehicles, in line with the company’s strategy of offering several powertrain types.
TBC works with Toyota’s North American manufacturing network. It supports battery evaluation for Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina, and for the company’s vehicle plants across North America.
“For Toyota customers, this facility means Toyota engineers can detect and resolve field concerns faster and closer to the source,” says Jordan Choby, group vice president of powertrain at Toyota. “It also means we can develop longer-lasting batteries designed to perform in the conditions American drivers face every day.”
According to Keita Moritsu, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Toyota Motor North America R&D, the center extends the company’s battery development work to the region. “Toyota has long been at the forefront of battery development,” he says. “This center is where that leadership expands to North America — and where we’re building its next chapter.”
Toyota will also open the facility and research access to the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center, so that other research partners can use its testing and evaluation equipment. Toyota is a founding member of the Electric Vehicle Center, and the company says the program is part of its work to develop battery engineers and technicians in Michigan.
“We are proud to welcome this investment by Toyota that positions Michigan as the best place to build the future. This state-of-the-art facility will develop, test, and improve the batteries powering the next generation of vehicles,” says Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan.
Toyota has operated in Michigan for more than 50 years.
