22nd April 2022
Nissan aiming for solid-state battery cells by 2028
Japanese carmaker Nissan has unveiled a prototype production facility for laminated all-solid-state battery cells, which the company aims to bring to market in 2028.
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are expected to be a game-changing technology for electric vehicles, accelerating their popularity. The energy density of ASSBs is twice that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, their charging times are significantly shorter due to superior charge/discharge performance, and their costs are lower thanks to using less expensive materials. They also have the potential to be safer – since they lack the flammable liquid electrolytes of traditional batteries – as well as better for the environment, by avoiding the use of dangerous or toxic materials. With these benefits, Nissan expects to use all-solid-state batteries in a wide range of vehicle segments, making its EVs more competitive.
The new prototype facility pictured here is based within the Nissan Research Center, just south of Tokyo. The company plans to establish a pilot production line at its Yokohama Plant in 2024, based on materials, designs, and manufacturing processes being studied at the prototype facility.
If successful, it will then launch an electric vehicle (EV) with all-solid-state batteries developed in-house by 2028. These will be half the size of current batteries and be fully charged in just 15 minutes.
Nissan believes that all-solid-state batteries can be reduced to $75 per kWh by 2028 and to $65 per kWh thereafter, placing EVs at the same cost level as gasoline-powered vehicles. Its researchers are collaborating with NASA on a computerised database called the “original material informatics platform” to test combinations of materials among hundreds of thousands. This aims to identify what works best, while avoiding the use of expensive rare earths.
“Nissan has been a leader in electrification technology through a wide range of R&D activities – from molecular-level battery material research to the development of safe, high-performance EVs. Our initiatives even include city development using EVs as storage batteries,” said Kunio Nakaguro, executive vice president in charge of R&D.
“The knowledge gained from our experience supports the development of all-solid-state batteries, and we’ve accumulated important elemental technologies. Going forward, our R&D and manufacturing divisions will continue to work together to utilise this prototype production facility and accelerate the practical application of all-solid-state batteries.”
Nissan recently unveiled its long-term vision, Nissan Ambition 2030. In addition to 23 new electrified models, its objectives include the introduction of advanced autonomous vehicle technologies, with next-generation LIDAR systems on almost every new model by 2030.
—
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join us on Reddit
• Subscribe to us on YouTube
Comments »