Electric vehicles are clearly the future of the automotive industry, as brands have essentially all begun their march towards carbon neutrality. However, range anxiety and slow charging have all been barriers to the average person making the switch to an electric vehicle. However, solid state batteries (SSBs) may be the solution.
In the race to produce functioning solid-state batteries, Honda has recently made some massive breakthroughs which may have put them ahead of the pack. While other brands may have gotten a head start, the Japanese automaker has proven why they are a leader in this industry.
Exploring Honda’s innovative production methods and the opening of a new facility, we explore how the automaker could be leaps ahead of some of its direct competition. There innovative methods could pave the way to EVs with solid state batteries on our roads well before the end of the decade.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed.
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Honda’s New Demonstration Line Gets Them Ready For Mass Production
Ariel image of Honda’ Solid State Battery Demonstration Line
Some other players may have beaten Honda to the punch initially when it comes to solid state batteries, but the Japanese automaker has certainly taken the lead with their latest step. The brand has built a functioning demo which showcases how a fully-fledged production line could build solid state batteries.
- The production line is a smaller scale demonstration. Honda is still finalizing production methods for large scale operation
- The line aims to optimize production and keep costs down
- Production was scheduled to begin in January 2025
The Demonstration Line
At the end of last year, Honda announced that they had opened up a demonstration production line which can be used to produce solid state battery cells. This line is located within Honda’s research and development facility in Sakura City Japan, taking up roughly 300,000 square feet of the facility.
The cells produced by this line are Honda’s own design. They are something that the automaker has been investing tons of time and money in for a long amount of time. Solid state cells have been talked about in the realm of electric cars for decades, but it has taken billions of dollars and a ton of time to get them anywhere near production.
How Does This Translate To Mass Production
While there have been a few automakers that have issued statements about how they are gearing up to produce solid state batteries for their electric vehicles, Honda is the only one with proof of concept. This demonstration line shows how close they are to full-scale production.
Honda’s announcement came with an exciting date as well. According to a previous announcement, they would have already begun production on these solid state batteries, as they were set to start in January of this year. Mass production has been the biggest issue to solve with SSBs, and Honda seems to be the only company producing them now.
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Honda Is A Pioneer In Battery Innovation
Honda has consistently been one of the world’s leaders when it comes to innovation in the world of engines and powertrains. This is why it makes so much sense that their breakthroughs in the segment of electric vehicles are so revolutionary. The processes that they use bring us ever closer to functional solid state batteries in EVs.
Roll Pressing Is Key
One of the keys to how Honda got where they are today is the development of the roll-pressing technique. Using this technique, battery cells are, simply put, stamped together using a large press. This improves energy efficiency by increasing the density of solid electrolyte layers.
Where normal batteries utilize a paste or liquid to store their energy, whereas solid state batteries store their power in a solid form, usually a powder. The trouble is that this leaves tiny gaps of air, which is obviously not good for electrical conduction as it causes arching. By rolling batteries together, this air is literally squished out meaning that the batteries solid electrolyte makes near perfect contact with the electrode.
Avoiding Tricky Dendrites
Those who have been keeping up to date with the evolution in solid state battery technology will have no doubt heard about dendrites. Essentially, as lithium separates from the other compounds inside a battery, it forms into small crystals that grow over time, destroying a battery from the inside. They have been a massive issue when it comes to the longevity of batteries.
Honda has come up to a solution of sorts to this problem. They have developed a plastic polymer layer that will act as a barrier, preventing the lithium inside the battery from touching the electrode. While this sounds like an overly simple solution, it could add years to the lifespan of a battery.
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Scaling Up Production For Use Just About Everywhere
Front 3/4 shot of the 250th delivered HondaJet
Honda got its start in the world as a manufacturer of engines for bikes. Since then, it has often been joked that they are an engine company that also makes cars. This is certainly true today, with the company developing a wide range of engines designed for numerous applications. With the transition to electric power, it makes sense that they would secure their future as a powertrain giant.
Land, Sea, And Air
As part of the Japanese brand’s press release announcing the opening of their demonstration line, the company also shared details about their plans for solid-state battery implementation. Honda aims to integrate this advanced technology into motorcycles, cars, and even planes, signaling a major step forward in electrification across multiple transportation sectors.
Additionally, since Honda produces engines for various seaworthy vessels, it’s likely that solid-state batteries could eventually find their way into marine applications as well. This expansion would further showcase the versatility and potential of Honda’s breakthrough battery technology.
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Solid State Batteries Are The Holy Grail In The World Of EVs
Shot of battery pack assembly at a Honda factory
There is a reason that Honda has put so much time, effort, and money into mass-producing solid state batteries for their vehicles. Tons of automakers around the world have been in the same pursuit, looking at just how they can get the technology to work in an EV. So what makes them so attractive?
- Solid state batteries reduce charging times and improve range by a large amount.
- Tons of companies have invested a large amount of time and money in to solid state battery technology.
- The cost of production is still high, but Honda aims to keep costs competitive with clever manufacturing techniques
Benefits Of Solid State Batteries
One of the biggest reasons that people have been so hesitant to make the switch over to electric vehicles is that they take a long time to charge, and their range is generally poor compared to gas-powered cars. Range-anxiety is something that plagues EV owners. Enter solid state batteries.
While every automaker has been quoted as saying their solid state batteries will allow for different ranges, they are generally at least around the 500-mile mark. Most automakers aim closer to somewhere between 600 miles and 900 miles, which is insanely impressive. Solid state batteries are also able to charge much faster than lithium-ion batteries, meaning they could take as little as five minutes to fully charge.
The main downside is that solid state batteries are still incredibly expensive to manufacture. Certain brands have even claimed that initially their batteries will only be used in luxury vehicles.
We Still Have Some Time To Wait
Honda has been quoted saying that they plan to have their solid state batteries in vehicles by “the second half of the 2020s”. This essentially means before 2030. This may still feel like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things its just around the corner. Until then, most electric vehicles on the market will use more traditional batteries.
Other Players In SSBs
Alongside Honda, there are plenty of other automakers that are committed to developing solid state batteries. Most notably, Toyota has been a long-time proponent for the technology. They claim that solid state batteries are the key to making EVs suitable for mass adoption. While they first demonstrated a prototype back in 2010, production is only scheduled to launch in 2026.
There is a plethora of other automakers and tech companies that have acknowledged the necessity of this technology. From Volkswagen to Renault, solid state batteries are seen as the key to powering electric vehicles in a way that makes sense to the average consumer. However, with produciton at Honda underway, they are the clear leaders in this race.
