Honda sets up a demonstration production line for all-solid-state batteries

The demonstration line has been constructed in Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan and will be used to conduct technical verification of a mass production process and determine the basic specifications of the battery cells. Honda says it aims to begin applying its all-solid-state batteries to electrified models that will be introduced to market in the second half of the 2020s.

Honda says the demonstration line covers an area of approximately 27,400 sq.m and is equipped with facilities and equipment that enable verification of each production process, including weighing and mixing of electrode materials, coating and roll pressing of electrode assembly and the formation of cells, and assembly of the module. Start of battery production on this demonstration line will begin in January 2025.

The company states that its all-solid-state battery production process adopts a roll-pressing technique which will contribute to an increase in the density of the solid electrolyte layers and makes continuous pressing possible. The aim of this technique is to increase the degree of interfacial contact between the electrolyte and the electrodes and increase overall productivity.

Reducing costs and improving economies of scale
Through the consolidation and speeding up of assembly processes, including the bonding of positive and negative electrodes, Honda says it will work to significantly reduce the production time per cell and reduce indirect costs of battery production, including power consumption. The company says it is also working to simplifying the cooling structure by taking advantage of high heat resistance and realising efficient production processes, to further reduce costs.

The company will look to increase the cost competitiveness of its all-solid-state batteries by expanding application of the batteries to a wide range of its mobility products, beyond automobiles to include motorcycles and aircraft and take advantage of economies of scale.

Honda says it is focusing research and development in two core areas – material specifications and manufacturing methods. Even before the battery materials and specifications are determined, the production engineering division has been collaborating in development process and taking part in decisions on battery structure, materials, and production methods, which would be most suitable for vehicle installation.