The Nissan Yokohama plant is one of the oldest factories and also the first mass-production unit in Japan. While Nissan’s decision to transform the facility in order to produce solid-state EV batteries is significant. Since the industry is inclined toward electric cars.
Nissan is ready for the electric era, preparing to build EV batteries
Last month, the company is disclosing that its Yokohama Plant have produced its 40 millionth engine. This mass-production capability with no doubt is taking the facility in a new direction.
With the launching of the all-electric Nisan LEAF in 2010, the facility also continuously produces electric motors, this includes its e-POWER (hybrid) cars. While these motors are responsible for approximately 40% of production at the facility in the fiscal year 2022 respectively.
Although, when it comes to its massive transformation then it is just around the corner. As per the Automotive News, the Nissan plant will start pilot production of advanced solid-state EV batteries.
Above all, solid-state batteries are regarded as the “unicorn,” if you will, of electric vehicle battery tech that is supposed to have the ability to deliver higher energy density at safe levels. Even with many automakers and other tech companies declaring for solid-state batteries over the past couple of years but none of them yet hit the market.
On the other hand, Yokohama Plant Manager Tamiyo Wada stated that he assumes the percentage of electric motors have been continue to grow. He added:
We have other challenges that we want to take on in the future. We want to focus on new competencies as well and do this in parallel
Talking about the prime motive of Nissan’s new solid-state EV battery pilot program. As Nissan claims that it will deliver a battery by 2028 that is capable of holding twice the energy with respect to current lithium-ion batteries. Apart from this, the company also revealed that it will be able to charge up to one-third of the time and cost $75 per kWh. However, Nissan assumes that it can get it to $65.
Toyota is working to enhance the cruising range
The information reveals after Japan’s biggest automaker, Toyota, disclosed that it had achieved a “technological breakthrough” and was speeding up the development of EV batteries.
The strategy put together all solid-state EV batteries that will improvingly enhance the cruising range by 20% with a focus quick charge time of under 10 minutes. While Toyota says it’s working on a higher-level variant that targets a 50% improvement in the cruising range which comes to approx 900 miles.