What we know!

Honda has made the exciting announcement that it will be among the first to get the new solid state battery technology onto a production line, at least in a limited capacity, as a way to help further its development. Moving forward, Honda hopes to scale the new batteries for use in just about everything – from scooters and motorcycles to cars and SUVs.

Thus far, an early step toward mass production of solid state batteries for Honda vehicles has been realized, but even this will assist the company in determining best practices and new efficiencies in design that aid in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, it will help in preparing every Honda production line for the next-gen technology.

A demonstration line if you will is made clear in a new 295,000 square foot manufacturing facility, where solid state batteries, on a relatively small scale, will be tested. It will also serve to demonstrate how Honda will approach implementation of the technology going forward.

This development process will also aid in determining the size and capacity of the new solid state cells as they continue being made, with this process including weighing and mixing the electrode materials, coating and roll pressing the electrode assembly and the formation of cells as well as the assembly of the module. In addition, it will help in the area of verification and quality control.

Honda plans to conduct verification of mass production technologies and costs for each process, while also developing battery cell specs beginning in January of 2025.

In outlining goals for this effort, Honda says they are to increase the degree of interfacial contact between the electrolyte and the electrodes in each cell, as well as to consolidate a series of assembly processes, including the bonding of positive and negative electrodes to reduce the production time per cell as well as to reduce indirect costs of battery production, including power consumption.

This brand new factory is specifically designed to bring down costs while rapidly developing best manufacturing practices for a new technology. In fact, by the second half of the 2020s, Honda

plans to lead the mass production of the solid state batteries, which will serve to solve some traditional EV issues like range, price and charging time.

Honda also claims it's a major milestone for the country of Japan.

This demonstration production line was constructed on the property of Honda R&D Co. Ltd., which is located in Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. This demo line, which will replicate the processes required for the future mass production, is equipped with facilities and equipment needed to verify each production process. The construction of this facility was completed in spring, with all key equipment installed.

With abundant manufacturing expertise and a proven track record of achieving mass production of new technologies, Honda is truly on its way to making great strides in the area of all-solid-state batteries.

In an effort to realize carbon neutrality for all Honda products and corporate activities by 2025, Honda has both set the wheel in motion and has set a target to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100 percent of its new vehicle sales globally by 2040.

These all-solid batteries are truly the wave of the future, and will solve many issues moving forward. Honda is striving to lower the cost of these batteries by simplifying the cooling structure by taking advantage of high heat resistance and realizing highly efficient production processes. This will result in a significant advancement of EV performance and creation of all-new value for Honda’s beloved customers.

“We believe that advancement of batteries will be a driving force in the transformation of Honda,” Keiji Otsu, president and representative Director of Honda R&D Co. Ltd., said. “We will continue taking on challenges to launch our mobility products equipped with our all-solid-state batteries as quickly as possible so that Honda can offer new value to our customers.”

Pivotal moments just keep happening for Honda, and this development speaks profoundly to that. A jump start on the action? You betcha! See what these all-solid-state batteries have to offer!