Nissan Debuts Manufacturing Plant Prototype For Solid-State Batteries

Nissan debuted its macro prototype production facility for laminated all-solid-state battery (ASSB) cells. The plant is situated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, as part of the Nissan Research Center.

In November 2021, the Japanese company confirmed the in-house progress of solid-state batteries, with plans to set up trial manufacturing at its Yokohama Plant in fiscal 2024 and release the very first EV enabled by the new batteries in fiscal 2028.

The newly designed production process is a crucial stage toward commercial exploitation of those upcoming batteries, which Nissan expects to focus on providing a power density roughly twice that of classic lithium-ion batteries, considerably shorter charging time due to outstanding charge/discharge results, and reduced cost due to the ability to use less expensive materials.

Nissan has been developing lithium-ion batteries for a long time (over 20 years), and we fully comprehend that the company plans to continue its in-house technique with solid-state batteries as well. As we’ve seen, the external form factor is similar to the company’s current conventional cells – laminated cells.

In presenting the prototype production facility, Nissan reiterated its very ambitious battery cell cost targets of $75 per kWh in fiscal 2028 and $65 per kWh thereafter (on the pack level). According to Nissan, electric car costs should indeed be lowered to the very same level as internal combustion engine vehicles.

Nissan battery technology goals in a nutshell

• Nissan intends to introduce cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries to bring down the cost by 65% by fiscal year 2028 (by the end of March 2029)
• Nissan intends to launch electric vehicle with “its proprietary all-solid-state batteries (ASSB)” by fiscal year 2028 (by the end of March 2029). A pilot plant in Yokohama should be ready as early as fiscal year 2024
• All-solid-state batteries (ASSB) target cost:
  $75 per kWh on the pack level by fiscal year 2028
  potential to achieve $65/kWh on the pack level
• Global battery supply targets:
  52 GWh by by fiscal year 2026 (by the end of March 2027)
  130 GWh by fiscal year 2030 (by the end of March 2031)
• EV36Zero (EV hub concept) fully integrated manufacturing to spread globally: Europe (UK), Japan, China and in the U.S.