Japan’s government is reportedly planning a multi-million dollar investment in solid-state research to keep national battery tech development ahead of global competitors.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is set to provide JPY1.6 billion ($14 million) in financial support to create a solid-state battery research programme, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.
The financial journal said Japanese battery makers GS Yuasa, Panasonic and carmakers Toyota, Nissan, Honda, will join the research programme, run by the Lithium Ion Battery Technology and Evaluation Center (LIBTEC)— whose members include chemicals companies Asahi Kasei, Toray Industries and Kurary.
The project aims to boost the performance of Toyota’s solid-state battery technology towards commercialisation by improving battery manufacturing processes, safety, operational temperature and mass production technology, Nikkei reported.
Japanese media has also reported that LIBTEC expects to see solid-state batteries help double the range of electric vehicles to 800 kilometres by 2030 compared to the current 400km.
