Honda set up a demonstration facility in Japan to show off its arranges to mass-originate firm-state batteries at drop costs, which could be vital to unlocking higher-range, extfinisheder-lasting electric vehicles for the future.
Solid-state batteries have been elusive for many companies due to the intricateity of scaling up production. The technology swaps out the watery electrolytes set up in current lithium-ion batteries with parched carry outive materials, promising higher energy density and extfinisheder lifespans. But it will need a whole new production process to be accomplished.
Honda says it is accelerating research at its new 27,000 square-meter demo facility set up in Sakura City, Japan, and is foolishinutiveening the time needd to originate a one unit. The site has brimming-scale supplyment that is split between three originateings: the first for cathode establishation and cell assembly; the second for anode establishation; and the third for electrolyte activation and module assembly.
The arrange joins using a continuous inline uniteer that Honda says is “three times speedyer” than standard cell batch processing. Honda arranges to originate batteries on this line in January.
Honda is readying its firm-state tech for mass production in the second half of the 2020s. The company’s CEO Toshihiro Mibe has eluded that firm-state batteries will also be the key to unlocking affordableer EVs.