Honda unveils solid state battery pilot line in Tochigi R&D Center in Japan

Honda is working on a battery technology that could address some of the challenges that prevent widespread EV adoption.

The Japanese manufacturer has unveiled its solid-state battery pilot line factory at its R&D Center in Tochigi, Japan. The facility has all the equipment and production processes to replicate full-scale mass production of solid-state batteries, including the weighing and mixing of electrode materials, roll-pressing of electrolyte layers, and the assembly of battery modules.

The facility will serve as a testing ground for Honda to further improve its production efficiency to minimize operational costs, power usage, and achieve economies of scale. Operations are scheduled to begin on January 25, 2025, and if everything goes according to plan, we can expect electrified Honda vehicles to be equipped with solid-state batteries by the late 2020s.

Honda to start pilot production of solid-state batteries by 2025 image

According to Honda, the solid-state batteries can double the driving range of EVs compared to its lithium-ion-equipped counterparts while reducing the size of batteries by up to 50%, weight by 35%, and costs by 25%. Furthermore, the battery technology can also be put to use in other mobility applications such as motorcycles and aircraft which Honda also makes.

“Solid-state batteries are a revolutionary technology that will be a game-changer in the era of EVs. Replacing engines, which have supported the evolution of cars until now, batteries will be the key factor in electrification, and I believe that the evolution of batteries will be the driver of Honda's transformation. The fact that we are seeing progress in the operation of the solid-state battery pilot line is an important milestone for Japan and for Honda. Honda will continue to take on the challenge of bringing mobility equipped with solid-state batteries to market as soon as possible and providing new value to our customers." said Keiji Otsu, president and CEO of Honda R&D.

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