Honda EVs target 50% weight reduction, same range

Honda is already said to be in the proof-of-concept stage with solid-state batteries.

Speaking to the media at the Monterey Car Week, Honda executives have stated that the carmaker aims to cut battery weight on EVs by half without sacrificing real-world range.

Jay Joseph, VP of Sustainability & Business Development, Honda America, mentioned that the answer to improving EVs isn’t increasing the battery size but rather reducing the weight and speeding up charging times. He said, “The conventional thinking has been, if people are concerned about the range of the vehicle, then the answer is to put more battery in it. And of course that gets you into this spiral of cost, weight and dimensional return.” He added, “At some point, more battery doesn’t help.”

Joseph stated that one way of achieving their target is via solid-state batteries – capable of charging quicker than the conventional lithium-ion packs. Honda is already said to be in the proof-of-concept stage with solid-state batteries. Joseph also mentioned that the answer to range anxiety isn’t larger & heavier batteries but better access to charging. He stated that once charging infrastructure improves, there is no need for a 600-mile BEV.

Shinji Aoyama, VP & Global Electrification Chief, Honda, explained that with solid-state batteries, the weight of the EVs would be halved. Aoyama says that while the weight is reduced by half, the energy density and volume base remain the same.

Also, current battery packs take up the entire floor of EVs. However, once solid-state batteries are implemented there could be a lot more floor space in future Honda EVs.

Source: Read Full Article