Nissan is determined to re-enter the electric race. The Japanese manufacturer is set to produce batteries capable of offering twice the range without increasing in size.
A pioneer in the electric market with the Leaf, first unveiled in Yokohama in 2009, Nissan is struggling to get back in the game. Today, the Japanese manufacturer only has one electric model of its own: the Ariya. Production of the Leaf was halted at the Sunderland plant in March 2024, but it is still being distributed in Japan and the rest of Asia.
To regain its status as an innovator, Nissan is seeking to market a revolutionary battery. It took the company 17 years to develop this new technology. For the same energy capacity, these batteries are half the size.
Double the Range with Nissan’s Future Batteries?
Even if the battery size remains the same, Nissan promises a “car with double the range for a lower cost.” This is a solid-state battery (ASSB), a technology that is gaining more attention. Each cell contains a positive anode and a negative cathode, through which lithium ions move through the solid electrolyte during charge and discharge. The electrolyte here is solid, not liquid.
If the technology lives up to Nissan’s expectations, it should result in batteries that are half the size and weight, “while offering better range.” The company has opened its first pilot production line at the Yokohama plant. The goal is to manufacture initial battery prototypes and study the production process to refine and improve it over time.
The company has announced its intention to commercialize electric cars with ASSB batteries by 2028, “in a wide range of vehicle segments.” The manufacturer promises to lower the cost per kWh to 70 euros by 2028, and even further to 60 euros thereafter, compared to approximately 130 euros today. This would significantly reduce the production cost of electric vehicles.