The electric car is advancing inexorably around the world, although not at the same pace. While in Europe or USA The penetration of this technology is slower, in China electric cars already represent more than 35% of sales. In Japan, hybrid car paradise, both manufacturers and buyers are more cautious and pragmatic.
Japan has been showing slower than expected progression in the adoption of 100% electric cars for years: In the Japanese market, hybrid cars are kings. But the fact that brands like Honda, Mazda or Toyota are not betting everything on electric power does not mean that they are not making progress in the development of this technology, as shown. Honda’s latest advance in the field of solid state batteries.
Honda and the commitment to solid-state batteries: an ambitious plan
In general, Japanese brands do not stand out for having made aggressive strategies around the electric car. A clear example is Toyota, with a differentiated strategy, which has remained firm over time: in addition to not abandoning combustion engines and betting on the cars that consumers most demand, with hybrids at the forefrontthe Japanese brand is committed to a mix of technologies to power its vehicles.
For Toyota, “combustion engines are not the enemy, coal is the enemy.” And it is not the only one: Honda has also followed a prudent, but safe electrification strategy. Now, complying with its roadmap, the Japanese brand has just announced a crucial advance for its electric cars: the development of its own solid-state batteries, intended to increase the average autonomy and lower the final price of the vehicle.
Solid-state batteries represent a crucial evolution with respect to conventional lithium-ion batteries and are set to revolutionize electric mobility. Not only do they offer significantly higher energy density, but they also solve key problems such as limited autonomy, high costs and charging time.
Honda has not left this progress to chance: has established a demonstration production line that replicates large-scale processes to ensure this technology is ready for mass production before the end of the decade. This line, located in the Japanese city of Sakura, is a space of more than 27,000 m² designed to validate each step of the manufacturing process.
From materials handling to module assembly, Honda seeks to optimize times, reduce costs and establish a quality standard that allows these batteries to be applied in cars, motorcycles and even aircraft. Construction of the building was completed in the spring of this year, and almost all key equipment has already been installed.
In fact, Honda plans to start production on this line in January 2025 to validate mass production technologies and costs, while developing battery cell specifications.
Honda R&D Co. President Keiji Otsu described this breakthrough as a historic milestone for both the brand and Japan: “The solid-state battery is an innovative technology that will be a game-changer in this era of electric vehicles.” , he assures.
Honda’s plan not only looks at the production of these batteries, but also seeks a strategic impact: expanding the adoption of this technology to its entire range of products to maximize economies of scale and reduce costs. This approach will allow Honda to offer electric vehicles with ranges exceeding 800 km, making range anxiety a problem of the past.
The advance could even influence future models such as a potential electric NSX. Once the technical verification phase is completed, Honda will establish the basic specifications of the battery cells, with the aim of applying them to electrified models that will go on the market in the second half of the 2020s.
With the goal of “achieving carbon neutrality for all its products and corporate activities by 2050,” Honda aims for battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles to account for 100% of its global sales by 2040.
Meanwhile, for example Toyota also plans begin mass production of solid-state batteries between 2027 and 2028collaborating with the Japanese energy company Idemitsu Kosan, which already operates smaller pilot facilities. The race to lead this technology is becoming more and more interesting.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
