Honda Motor Co. CEO Toshihiro Mibe is banking on solid-state battery technology to drive down costs and make electric vehicles (EVs) more accessible. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte used in lithium-ion batteries with more stable materials, like ceramics. This could reduce the size and cost of battery packs and store more energy, making EVs more affordable. However, the high cost of producing solid-state technology means Honda must ensure the market is prepared before pushing ahead.
Honda lags behind peers like Toyota and Nissan in pursuing a solid-state battery strategy. The company is working on its own solid-state program and another with Korean partner LG Energy Solution. Mibe said it could take several years to get solid-state technology ready for mass consumption, and it will be difficult to judge when to ramp up production.
In the meantime, Honda’s first EVs will be larger, pricier SUVs built using GM’s Ultium EV platform, which will go on sale in 2024. Honda will need to get more EVs to market to remain competitive in the US and Europe. The company plans to develop smaller cars using its own EV platform starting in 2026. An electric Civic is years away. Mibe said Europe and California have plans to ban new internal combustion vehicles by 2035, and in China, heavy incentives make electrification a requirement. However, the US market is more difficult to predict because the charging network isn’t good enough.