"This is the game changer": Nissan commits to revolutionary solid state battery-powered electric car on sale by 2028

Nissan has committed to the launch of a production electric vehicle powered by a solid state drive battery in 2028.

The much-anticipated, but so far hard to scale technology, is being developed by Nissan in its ‘ASSB’ (All Solid State Battery) project with senior executives now detailing key milestones in the timeline to completion.

The confirmed roadmap recalls the beginning of the research phase in 2018 with work on a prototype production facility beginning in 2022.

Pilot line operations are scheduled to start this year, with a test prototype car on the road in 2026 prior to launch of a new ASSB EV production vehicle in 2028.

When asked if ASSB program timing is an aspirational or finalised schedule François Bailly, Senior Vice President, Chief Planning Officer AMIEO Region (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania) told CarsGuide, “It’s a plan. And we need to respect it and deliver it. So far, that’s where we are. We have the pilot line.”

That pilot line has been established at Nissan’s Yokohama plant in Japan and Mr Bailly says the new technology will be a big step in Nissan’s EV-focused future.

“This is the game changer. Batteries are 40 to 45 per cent of the total cost of the (electric) car, so this means 50 per cent lower cost. 

“Ariya’s existing battery is liquid based and the move to ASSB will improve (20-80 per cent) charging time by 25 per cent by 2026 and 50 per cent by 2028. Three times better charging time,” he said.

The focus of research across the automotive industry, solid state battery tech has so far suffered a high failure rate as the technology is increased in size.

But Nissan is confident it will succeed, saying its ASSB will have the potential for energy density approximately twice that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, significantly shorter charging time due to superior charge and discharge performance and lower costs due to less expensive materials. 

Nissan plans to use all-solid-state batteries in a wide range of vehicle segments, including pick-up trucks and light commercial vehicles.

As François Bailly told CarsGuide, “If you want to electrify the Patrol you cannot do it on a NMC (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) battery. It’s too big. With this, because you compress the volume by half you can electrify.”

And while Nissan’s Director of Corporate Communications, AMIEO Region Paul James notes “scaling up is the next challenge” tellingly he adds, “we don’t often put fixed dates on something like that unless we’re quite happy to.”

Toyota had previously made commitments to solid state batteries but has gone quiet of late. Carmakers in China are full-steam ahead, though. The first production model using semi-solid state batteries will be launched by IM at the end of this year touting 880km+ driving range.