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Despite the advancements in electric vehicles over time, range still remains a major concern. Battery packs are heavy, and the constant push for larger batteries to increase range can be counterproductive. This is where solid-state batteries come into play. During a discussion with The Drive at Monterey Car Week, Honda executives revealed their objective of halving the weight of batteries through the adoption of this technology, all while maintaining the vehicle’s real-world range.
“The traditional approach has always been to address range concerns by increasing the battery size. However, this approach leads to escalating costs, weight, and diminishing returns,” commented Jay Joseph, Vice President of Sustainability and Business Development at American Honda. “Simply adding more battery ceases to be an effective solution at a certain point.”
As per Joseph, the key to enhancing EV range and usability lies not in expanding the battery size, but in reducing weight and accelerating charging times. Solid-state batteries exhibit faster charging capabilities compared to conventional lithium-ion packs, partly due to their superior thermal stability.
Honda Prologue EV Honda
“Ultimately, the solution to range anxiety does not lie in increasing battery capacity, but in providing better access to charging. Having more accessible charging stations diminishes the necessity for 600-mile BEVs. Advancements in technology are ongoing. We have already confirmed our progress in the proof-of-concept stage with solid-state batteries, which hold the potential to trim weight and extend the vehicle’s range,” mentioned Joseph.
Addressing the weight reduction achievable with solid-state batteries, Honda’s Executive Vice President and Global Electrification Chief, Shinji Aoyama, stated that it would be cut in half. “Essentially, the energy density would be doubled, providing the same energy within a smaller volume, effectively halving the weight,” outlined Aoyama.
Currently, most electric vehicle battery packs occupy the entire base of contemporary vehicles. If Honda’s solid-state batteries indeed manage to slash weight and volume by half without compromising performance, there could be a considerable expansion of space within future Honda vehicles. Could this lead to the development of smaller vehicles? Will the vacant space necessitate additional structural reinforcement, consequently reintroducing weight to the vehicle? These are challenges Honda will need to address as they progress.
Honda
Another advantage of solid-state batteries is the reduced manufacturing time. Traditional lithium-ion batteries, with their liquid electrolytes, require extensive charging preparation before deployment in vehicles. Solid-state batteries eliminate the need for such preparations, facilitating quicker manufacturing and potentially reducing overall costs. However, transitioning to solid-state battery production will necessitate modifications in manufacturing facilities, entailing its own set of expenses.
Currently in the proof-of-concept phase with solid-state batteries, Honda is aiming to commence pilot production next year. When the time comes to incorporate them into consumer vehicles, the impact of a 50% reduction in weight on the heaviest component of an EV will be an intriguing development.
“Upon the full implementation of solid-state technology, we may consider doubling the energy storage capacity in a single vehicle. Essentially maintaining the same weight, we would then design a more compact battery casing for such products,” shared Aoyama.
Honda Prologue EV Honda
One potential direction for the company could involve the manufacture of smaller, lighter vehicles with battery longevity on par with current EVs. The future may witness more compact Hondas, such as an electric rendition of the Civic, equipped with 40- to 50-kWh batteries that deliver nearly 300 miles of range, subject to aerodynamic design and tire selection. However, based on Aoyama’s projections, it appears Honda might not initially pursue this path.
The automaker might opt to produce SUVs featuring battery packs akin in size and weight to those found in current EVs, but now with double the range. This scenario could involve an electric Honda Pilot with a range of 600 miles from an 80- to 100-kWh battery. This route appears more probable in the short term, as it would enable Honda to leverage existing platforms designed for the less energy-dense technology prevalent today. Irrespective of the selected direction, Honda’s solid-state battery is poised to offer quicker charging times compared to a standard lithium-ion pack.
If Honda succeeds in halving the weight of its batteries while enhancing energy density and charging speed, its hybrids and EVs will prove significantly more attractive than their current or impending counterparts. The speed at which such a solution can be brought to market, and whether Honda can outpace competitors like Toyota, are considerations for another time.
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