Honda aims to twice its EV range with help of solid-state batteries

Honda Motor has announced to double the range of its electric vehicles by the 2020s. The company plans to use all-solid-state battery technology to achieve this ambitious goal. 

The announcement was made by Keiji Otsu, President of Honda R&D, during a press conference which took place in Tochigi, Japan. Solid-state batteries promise a breakthrough in EV performance, offering significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Honda plans to develop a pilot production line for these advanced batteries, which will begin operations in January 2025. The £277 million investment in the Tochigi facility is largely supported by government subsidies.

The update came when Keiji Otsu, President of Honda R&D told his plans to reporters at a conference in Tochigi, Japan. Solid-state batteries hold great promise for EV performance advancements, providing notable gains in cost-effectiveness, safety, and efficiency. In January 2025, Honda intends to start a pilot production line for these cutting-edge batteries. A significant portion of the £277 million investment in the Tochigi complex comes from government subsidies.

Honda's Tochigi factory plays a critical role in manufacturing solid-state batteries in large quantities. The facility's main goal will be to improve manufacturing procedures so that the batteries are more scalable and efficient. In the next five years, the company aims to reduce the size of its battery by 50 per cent, 35 per cent of its weight, and 25 per cent in costs. These developments are part of Honda's larger plan to manufacture more than two million EVs a year by 2030. By 2040, the business also intends to switch entirely to fuel-cell and electric automobiles.

Lithium-ion batteries, the backbone of EVs for years, may soon be replaced by solid-state batteries. The new technology claims to provide longer driving ranges, quicker charging times, and increased durability, a solution to several shortcomings of existing batteries. Honda estimates that EV capabilities could advance significantly up to the 2040s with a possible 2.5-fold improvement in driving range.