This new bipolar NiMH battery on Aqua is actually quite a big innovation. I'm happy to see instead of a boring larger Yaris hybrid Toyota actually has something new to offer.
>> In a bipolar battery module, individual cells are stacked directly on each other thanks to the bipolar electrode. This way the modules can be much smaller and require fewer components.
>> Because current flows directly across the entire surface area of the current collector (instead of through wire connections), current density can be a lot higher. Losses will be lower because resistance is lower.
>> Each battery module is a large plate of stacked cells instead of cylindrical/prismatic/blade shape. This way the packaging efficiency can be very high and there's more surface area for cooling.
>> I don't know the exact specifications but from the image it looks like there are 7 modules each with 24 stacked layers (168s1p, 201.6V). Gen 1 uses 20 modules each with 6 internal serial connections (120s1p, 144V).
The end result is 2.1x power output from the same volume (1.4x cells, 1.5x current/cell). Gen 1 Aqua has 144V 6.5Ah@25C so total output is only 23kW. On Gen 2 this number is 49kW, even higher than the 311V Li-ion pack used on LS/LC500h (44kW)!
This is why this new form factor is such a game changer.
Without changing the battery chemistry they are able to outmatch the power density of Li-ion batteries. Now consider this form factor on BEVs, the charging speed will be much higher. The only drawback I see is a single point of failure will mean more voltage loss and each module will be more expensive to replace. But that is always the price you pay when going for more efficient form factors.
I think Toyota uses NiMH chemistry to test the feasibility of this new technology to use later on SSBs. I think this is how they will solve the low current density problem with SSBs. Bipolar electrodes are relatively new with only lead acid chemistry available. Li-ion bipolar batteries only started development very recently.