Honda Motor Co has unveiled the demonstration production line for all-solid-state batteries  in Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It plans to begin battery production on this line in January 2025.

The company will determine the basic specifications of the battery cells, with the aim of applying its all-solid-state batteries to electrified models that will be introduced to market in the second half of the 2020s.

Keiji Otsu, president and representative director of Honda R&D Co, said: “The all-solid-state battery is an innovative technology that will be a game-changer in this EV era.”

The demonstration line has a total floor area of about 27,400 m² (295,000 ft²), and is equipped with facilities and equipment that enable verification of each production process, including the weighing and mixing of electrode materials, coating and roll-pressing of electrode assembly, and the formation of cells, and assembly of the module.

The Honda all-solid-state battery production process adopts a roll-pressing technique that will contribute to an increase in the density of the solid electrolyte layers; a process unique to this type of battery that makes continuous pressing possible.

With the adoption of the roll-pressing technique, Honda aims to increase the degree of interfacial contact between the electrolyte and electrodes, and boost overall productivity. By consolidating and speeding up a series of assembly processes, including the bonding of positive and negative electrodes, the company is striving to significantly reduce production time per cell. It also aims to cut costs.

Striving to realise carbon neutrality for all its products and corporate activities by 2050, Honda has set a target to make battery-electric and fuel-cell EVs represent 100% of its new vehicle sales globally by 2040.