Last week, the Japanese company unveiled a prototype production facility for laminated all-solid-state battery (ASSB) cells at its research centre in Kanagawa.

Solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte instead of the liquid or polymer gel electrolytes found in lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries. This is expected to make them safer in use and give vehicles a longer range between charges.

Nissan says ASSBs have an energy density approximately twice that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, significantly shorter charging time due to superior charge/discharge performance, and lower cost thanks to the opportunity of using less expensive materials.

With these benefits, the carmaker expects to use all-solid-state batteries in a wide range of vehicle segments, including pickup trucks, making its EVs more competitive.

In a vision statement issued in November 2021, Nissan said it aims to launch an EV with its proprietary ASSB by fiscal year 2028.

The...