Nissan
Nissan has revealed its battery pilot line at its Yokohama Plant in Japan is on track to produce all-solid-state batteries that will be a “game-changer” for the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Nissan has announced it aims to launch EVs powered by its own all-solid-state batteries by early 2029.
In a bid to play catch-up with rivals Volkswagen and Toyota, which have already announced their plans to produce solid-state EVs, the Japanese manufacturer promises its batteries will be more powerful, cheaper, safer and faster to charge than the lithium-ion batteries in use in today’s EVs.
Nissan says it is conducting wide-ranging research and development, from molecular level battery material research to EV development, and even city development using EVs as storage batteries.
The reason why automakers are racing to develop solid-state batteries is because they offer significant benefits over conventional batteries, including materials that can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations. They also have higher energy densities, which mean for the same weight they can store more power.
The challenge is producing these batteries on a mass scale. However, with this new factory, Nissan is gearing up for a pilot production line within the next year, with commercial production of EVs to start by as early as April 2028.
Nissan claims that its all-solid-state battery technology will be a “game-changer” for making EV sales grow explosively.
The automaker also recently revealed it will step up its electrification and growth plans across the AMIEO region (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania) to drive competitiveness.
As well as increasing electrification, these plans also entail new approaches to engineering and manufacturing, the adoption of new technologies and the use of strategic partnerships to increase sales in the region.
Of the 16 new EVs launching globally, five will be launched in the AMIEO region.
Nissan in Europe is leading the way, as by 2026 Nissan expects more than 40% of its sales mix in Europe to be 100% electric and 75% electrified.
Nissan has also said it will realise its vision for EV and battery manufacturing, with the start of production of new EVs at its Sunderland plant in the UK.
Indeed, towards the end of last year Nissan announced it was to invest £2bn in the Sunderland plant to ramp up EV production.
