TL;DRHonda R&D signed a multiyear deal with QuantumScape to develop solid-state batteries, its second major OEM partner after Volkswagen.
Honda R&D, the independent research arm of Honda Motor Company, has signed a multiyear joint research agreement with California-based QuantumScape to develop and manufacture solid-state battery cells. The deal, announced on June 18, makes Honda the second major automaker to formally partner with QuantumScape after Volkswagen. The agreement follows Honda’s completion of an in-depth technology evaluation that included hands-on testing and competitive benchmarking of QuantumScape’s solid-state platform.
Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte in conventional lithium-ion cells with a solid material, promising higher energy density, faster charging, and improved safety. Automakers have been racing to commercialise the technology for years, with Toyota, BMW, Nissan, and others investing heavily in competing approaches. QuantumScape’s design uses a ceramic separator and lithium-metal anode, a combination the company says enables significantly better performance than traditional cells.
“QS technology demonstrated compelling and unique advantages during our evaluation,” said Atsushi Ogawa, chief operating officer of Honda R&D’s Research Center of Excellence. “We see potential for QS technology to add value across a range of applications, including automotive, and we are excited to move forward into the next phase of our partnership.”
