The new engine that will revolutionize Formula E: This electric battery is the key to everything
The electrification of the vehicle fleet is not only evident on America's highways, but also on the major racing circuits around the world. In this sense, we have just learned about an electric battery that does away with the semi-solid state, questioned for its implications in the field of sustainability. It is so cutting-edge that even Formula E wants it.
Semi-solid state electric battery is going to disappear: a long list of obstacles
Solid-state batteries have generated a lot of interest and hype in recent years as a potential breakthrough for electric vehicles.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid or gel. This makes them safer, more stable, and potentially much more energy dense.
Nissan has been working on developing solid-state batteries for over 10 years. They aim to have an automotive-ready all-solid-state battery by 2028.
Recently, Nissan announced a major milestone with the construction of a pilot production line for all-solid-state batteries in Japan.
This brings their timeline forward, with plans to have a car equipped with their next-gen solid-state batteries on sale as early as 2025. Nissan is pushing forward aggressively with research and development to make solid-state batteries a reality for electric vehicles.
New solid-state electric battery: up to 1,000 cycles and unprecedented power
Nissan has been developing all-solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. These next-generation batteries use solid electrolytes instead of liquid or gel electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries.
Solid electrolytes improve energy density, power, safety, and cycle life.
Nissan's prototype all-solid-state batteries have an energy density over twice that of their current lithium-ion batteries - around 850 Wh/L compared to about 350 Wh/L. This means they can store more than twice the energy for the same volume.
The power density is also improved to 1,400 W/kg for charging capability. Nissan is targeting a charging time of 15 minutes to reach 80% capacity.
For cycle life, Nissan is targeting the ability to maintain over 90% of the initial battery capacity after 1,000 charge/discharge cycles. This is a big improvement over current EV batteries.
The pilot production line, unveiled: what the carmakers are going to do
Nissan recently unveiled its new pilot production line for all-solid-state batteries in Japan. This prototype line will enable the company to refine and scale up its ASSB technology ahead of mass production.
The company has partnered with other major automakers like Renault and Mitsubishi to jointly develop and produce them.
In 2018, Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi formed an alliance to co-develop solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. The three automakers pool their resources and expertise to accelerate innovation in EV battery technology, as we have seen.
The pilot line is capable of producing all-solid-state battery cells at the rate of a few hundred units per month to validate their performance and reliability. Though modest compared to high-volume battery factories, it represents a significant milestone for advanced battery development.
Nissan plans to leverage insights from the pilot line to engineer ASSBs for electric vehicles arriving in 2028.
The goal is to have a commercially viable solid-state battery design ready when the company launches new EV models several years from now.
With the pilot line now active, Nissan is on track to be among the first automakers capable of mass producing all-solid-state batteries. Its head start could give Nissan's EVs an edge over rivals still relying on conventional lithium-ion batteries. As you can see, this electric battery has everything to put an end to semi-solid state batteries and open the door to a new generation that has been predicted for years.
The truth is that, until big brands like Tesla and BYD become interested, there is still a long way to go.
We have seen diamond, nanobatteries and even liquid-state batteries, but there is still a lot of research to be done with these.