Solid-state batteries are making headlines more and more in recent months. This type of battery, particularly when it comes to EVs, could very well change the game, as we’ve talked about multiple times in the past. But up until fairly recently, it seemed that solid-state battery tech was getting close to becoming a reality, but always remained an “almost there” story.
That story is about to change, or at least some of the biggest names in the tech and automotive industries are hoping so. Not too long ago, we talked about how Samsung previewed a groundbreaking solid-state EV battery with a whopping 600-mile range and lightning-fast nine-minute charge time. In that article, I mentioned that things surrounding the solid-state EV battery craze were getting pretty serious because big tech had finally stepped in.
As it would turn out, things are just about to get even more serious, as Honda has just announced a new solid-state battery production facility in its home country of Japan. And while Big Red isn’t going to go right ahead and start producing EVs with solid-state batteries, it’s surely going to use the new facility to conduct tons of R&D and tests on the potentially game-changing technology.
As you’re probably well aware, Honda’s been at the forefront of light EV tech recently. For starters, the Honda Mobile Power Pack e: is proving to be quite the versatile powerhouse—literally. I mean, Honda’s using it to power all sorts of stuff—from construction equipment, to electric scooters, and even tourist boats.
So surely, the addition of a solid-state battery solution from Honda will certainly spell some seriously huge things for the industry. After all, Honda is one of the biggest and most influential motorcycle and automotive brands on the planet, and the fact that it’s investing quite a lot of resources into developing solid-state battery tech is a massive signal to the entire automotive and motorcycle industry.
And all this brings me back to Honda’s innovations at EICMA 2024. I complained about how Honda missed an opportunity to integrate the Mobile Power Pack e: into the two EV motorcycle concepts it showcased during the expo. But now, it seems that things are making more sense.
Now I know this may seem far-fetched, but what if Honda’s EV Fun Concept and EV Urban Concept were to be unveiled with solid-state batteries? This would surely change the EV game, maybe forever, as the bikes will have enough range that going electric would make sense for an even wider audience. Plus, their faster charge times would mean that getting back on the road after a quick-charge could be as quick as a bathroom break.
So yeah, this is definitely a positive development, especially for folks who've had their doubts about electrification in the past. But of course, nothing is set in stone just yet, and I’m sure we’ll learn a whole bunch more about solid-state EV batteries as Honda starts R&D on this tech in its new facility.
Source: Honda
