Nissan Solid-State Battery SUV
The automotive world is abuzz with the promise of solid-state batteries (ASSBs), a technology poised to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) landscape.
Nissan, a pioneer in mass-market EVs with its Leaf, is at the forefront of this next-generation battery development, and enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating what this could mean for future models, particularly SUVs.
While a definitive price tag for a Nissan solid-state battery SUV remains under wraps, the company’s ambitious cost targets for the batteries themselves offer compelling clues.
Nissan’s Solid-State Ambition: Aiming for Parity with Gasoline Cars
The Japanese automaker isn’t just dabbling in solid-state battery research; it’s making significant investments and has laid out a clear roadmap.
Nissan aims to launch its first EV equipped with in-house developed all-solid-state batteries by the fiscal year 2028, which concludes in March 2029. A crucial part of this strategy is aggressive cost reduction.
The company is targeting a battery pack cost of $75 per kWh by fiscal year 2028, with a further goal to drive that down to an impressive $65 per kWh thereafter.
This is a pivotal figure because it’s widely believed that achieving such battery costs will allow EVs to reach price parity with their traditional gasoline-powered counterparts.
What Does This Mean for a Future Nissan Solid-State Battery SUV?
Currently, the battery pack is one of the most expensive components in an EV. If Nissan successfully meets its $65 to $75 per kWh target for solid-state batteries, it could significantly lower the overall manufacturing cost of its future electric SUVs.
While it’s premature to predict an exact MSRP for a hypothetical Nissan solid-state battery SUV launching around 2028-2029, we can infer the direction.
The primary goal of this advanced battery technology, beyond performance enhancements like potentially doubled energy density and one-third the fast-charge time, is to make EVs more accessible and competitive.
Consider this: current lithium-ion battery pack costs have been hovering around $100-$130 per kWh. If Nissan’s solid-state batteries achieve their targeted cost reductions, the savings could translate into:
- More competitively priced Nissan electric SUVs.
- The possibility of offering larger SUVs with substantial range without an exorbitant price premium.
- A faster transition to an all-electric lineup, as outlined in Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan, which includes a significant number of new EVs.
Beyond Cost: The Allure of Solid-State in an SUV
For SUVs, the benefits of Nissan’s solid-state battery technology extend beyond just the initial purchase price.
ASSB promises greater energy density, meaning more range from a similarly sized or even smaller and lighter battery pack. This could lead to more spacious interiors or improved vehicle dynamics – both desirable traits in an SUV.
Furthermore, solid-state batteries are anticipated to offer enhanced safety due to the absence of flammable liquid electrolytes and potentially longer lifespans.
These factors, combined with the targeted cost efficiency, make them an ideal candidate for a versatile and family-friendly Nissan SUV.
Nissan has indeed indicated that it expects to use ASSBs across a wide array of vehicle segments, explicitly mentioning pickup trucks and potentially large SUVs, even for hybrid applications initially, where the weight and stability benefits would be advantageous.
The Road Ahead: Pilot Production and Commercialization
Nissan is not just talking; it’s acting. The company has already unveiled a prototype production facility for its laminated all-solid-state battery cells at the Nissan Research Center in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
A pilot production line is slated to be operational at its Yokohama Plant in fiscal 2024, with engineering work expected to be completed by 2026, paving the way for mass production by fiscal 2028.
An Affordable Electric Future for Nissan SUVs?
While the exact cost of a Nissan solid-state battery SUV is still on the horizon, the company’s clear cost reduction targets for the batteries themselves are a strong indicator of their intention to make these future EVs highly competitive.
If Nissan achieves its goal of $65-$75 per kWh, we could see electric SUVs that are not only technologically superior but also closely aligned in price with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
The journey to 2028 will be closely watched, as Nissan’s solid-state battery technology could indeed be a game-changer for the SUV market and the broader adoption of electric mobility.
