Honda Motor wants to use all-solid-state battery technology to increase the driving range of electric cars (EVs) by the end of the 2020s. This information was revealed at a news conference in Tochigi, Japan, by Keiji Otsu, President of Honda R&D. Significant improvements in EV efficiency, safety, and affordability are anticipated thanks to the cutting-edge battery technology. A £277 million investment, nearly half of which comes from government subsidies, is being used to create a trial production line for these batteries in Tochigi, which is scheduled to start operations in January 2025.
However, before full production can begin and the power packs can be installed in production EVs, Honda engineers must confirm the build method, technology, and cost of producing the batteries. They also need to finalize the precise specifications of the battery cells.
According to Honda, it will take place “in the second half of the 2020s.” Solid-state technology is “a game changer of the EV era,” according to Otsu, who told Reuters that by the end of this decade, the new batteries will have twice the driving range of existing lithium-ion batteries, and by the 2040s, they will have 2.5 times the range.
On the surface, it might mean that by 2029, Honda EVs could travel 600 miles (966 km) between charges, but the more likely scenario for the majority of models is that Honda will increase range slightly while using the benefits of energy density to reduce the size of the batteries installed in its electric vehicles. According to Otsu, Honda wants to cut the project’s battery size by 50%, weight by 35%, and cost by 25% when compared to the present EV standards. At a time when many people are starting to lose interest in EVs, lowering costs is essential to making electric cars more accessible (and appealing to customers).
Potential of Honda Solid-State Batteries
The Tochigi factory will concentrate on improving battery manufacturing procedures and is referred to as a critical step towards mass production. Over the next five years, Honda wants to reduce battery size by 50%, weight by 35%, and cost by 25%. These enhancements are in line with Honda’s overarching plan to produce more than two million electric cars a year by 2030 and to fully switch to fuel-cell and electric vehicles by 2040.
It is anticipated that traditional liquid-state lithium-ion batteries will be replaced by solid-state batteries. They guarantee increased durability, quicker charging, and a greater range. According to Honda, EV capabilities could change by the 2040s, with a projected 2.5-fold improvement in driving range. Otsu claims that this technology marks a change in the automobile sector by addressing persistent issues with battery performance and dependability.
