Nissan to open pilot plant for solid-state batteries
The automaker confirmed those plans in an announcement to the press, noting that it would establish a pilot production line at its Yokohama Plant in 2024, where it would work out the development and manufacturing process for the battery tech.
Early adopters left behind?
That could mean those who purchase an electric vehicle with lithium-ion batteries could be left with poor resale or trade-in value and a shorter expected battery life, as lithium-ion batteries degrade faster than their solid-state counterparts. That degradation could ultimately hurt electric vehicle ownership unless automakers offer incentives to current owners to buy a new solid-state battery-powered vehicle, or find a way to upgrade existing electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries.
And as is the current trend in consumer electronics, new technological upgrades are released frequently; imagine dropping a grand on the latest smartphone only to have the manufacturer announce a new one right after.
Not being on the bleeding edge of the latest tech can be a turnoff for consumers—and it probably wouldn’t be much different for electric car owners.
Not the first, not the last
Nissan definitely isn’t the first automaker to pursue solid-state battery technology. Toyota has long been a proponent of the tech and has previously announced an EV that would be powered by a solid-state battery—enabling it to deliver a range of a whopping 600 miles on a single charge, according to the automaker.
As previously reported, Nissan is hoping to bring the cost of batteries down to $75 per kilowatt-hour by 2028, with future development hitting $65 per kilowatt-hour. For reference, the current industry average sits at $132 per kilowatt-hour.
Time will tell whether this technology will work.
