Investors and legacy battery makers are watching for signs that Japanese companies can make good on claims they will be able to commercialise solid state car battery technology. Photograph: Toms Kalnins/EPAinsists will be churning out solid-state batteries by 2028, an executive of the Japanese carmaker last week fired back at scepticism about the nascent technology from companies he says are clinging to the past.
In response to questions about the CATL chief’s remarks, the Nissan executive claimed the group had cracked some of the critical elements of solid state, in the laboratory at least. He said the company had found new mechanisms that would help with ion transfer within the batteries, and minimise the problems of expansion of lithium during charging and discharging, which can reduce battery life, and provide greater safety.
Although Japan’s carmakers can often be lumped together when discussing solid-state advances, they are not all in the same situation. Nissan, meanwhile, is struggling, having fallen behind in the EV race and lacking the scale needed to compete globally. Just last week, on the heels of its solid-state factory tour, Nissan cut its full-year sales and operating profit forecasts, knocking its shares. The pain might have been worse had analysts not already factored in the risk of a miss to existing guidance – never a good look.