Nissan Has A Battery That Could Double EV Range

Nissan continues to invest in solid-state batteries. The automaker faces its fair share of financial challenges, and these circumstances have forced the Japanese marque to reconsider many future plans, but its investment in this technology isn't one of them. According to a new report, Nissan may also be one of the first to bring the revolutionary battery tech, which promises greater range and efficiency without added weight, to market.

Nissan Plots Its Solid-State Future

A report from Nikkei indicates the automaker has developed prototype solid-state battery cells that may double the range of its current crop of EVs. Hypothetically, that would mean your average Nissan Leaf would now be capable of some 600 or more miles in between charges. Reportedly, Nissan's batteries have met the performance metrics needed by the company to justify mass production. Nissan has already begun running a pilot production line for its solid-state EV batteries.

The American Talent Behind Nissan's Solid-State Push

Nissan isn't going it alone, which on its own may explain why the company can keep investing while in such dire straits. The American battery start-up LiCAP Technologies is helping the automaker develop its new cells. It specializes in a critical process necessary for the production of cells: dry-coating. Traditionally, batteries like this are wet-coated, which is expensive and time-consuming. Inversely, the dry-coating process is both cheaper and quicker while providing a greater degree of quality control. As a result, the targeted price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of battery is much lower than current average prices, down to $75 per kWh from $115 per kWh, the industry average, says InsideEVs.

On the whole, solid-state batteries could represent an entirely new chapter for electric vehicles. With reduced costs and greater commercial viability as a result, automakers will be able to offer their cars to a broader audience. Not only could this renew interest in EVs and increase the rate of adoption over traditional gasoline vehicles, but it may also represent a nail in the coffin for gasoline-powered cars. With unmatched efficiency and truly impressive range, buying a gas car becomes more of a personal choice than one made for financial reasons. However, while several automakers are working on solid-state batteries, we're likely still years away from mass-market vehicles shipping with these battery packs.