Nissan's Innovative Solid-State Gambit

It's all about sulfur and pressure.

May 5, 2025

Roberto Baldwin

Nissan Solid-State development line in action. (Nissan)

It’s not hard to find automakers and battery companies that are trying to develop viable solid-state batteries. The technology will open up quicker charging, increased energy density and, more importantly, lower costs.

At Nissan's Opamma plant in Japan, the automaker's Shunichi Inamijima, vice president of powertrain and EV engineering, shared Nissan's plans to bring a solid-state battery-powered EV to market by the end of 2028.

The company's all-solid-state battery (ASSB) ambitions began in the mid-2010s. Nissan is currently in the advanced development phase, working on cell and pack structure design and production of the cell process. Inamijima told the assembled press that Nissan plans on testing an EV equipped with ASSB technology in 2026.

Nissan's technology relies on a slightly different material for its electrolyte, sulfur. The automaker is working towards a sulfur-manganese cathode due to its low cost and its dense particle size. Inamijima said this would increase conductivity. Nissan's solid-state technology also removes the need for high-demand cobalt.

The density of a sulfur-manganese cathode, according to Nissan, reduces resistance in the battery and increases battery charging 20%. Unfortuantely, there was not a kW speed rating shared. It will also allow for more energy capacity in the same (or less) space as a current battery pack. The company is predicting an energy density (1,000 watt-hours per liter WH/L) that outperforms the typical lithium-ion battery's density of about 700 watts per liter (Wh/L). The result is battery packs that are 70% the size of what's available today. That means less weight and more range from the same size battery..

Nissan also noted that its binder has a fibrous structure that allows ions to pass more easily than traditional binders, which in some cases block the passing of ions. A more free-flowing battery chemistry increases pack efficiency.

Nissan is also forgoing the use of graphite in the anode and opting for a lithium metal anode. Again, the reasoning is to increase energy density. The issue is the volume change that occurs as the battery charges and discharges. In early development, Nissan used a passive spring system and a motor-fed screw mechanism to counter the volume changes and apply constant pressure to the anode. Both have since been disregarded for a new mechanical system that remains top secret.

Nissan notes that EVs with solid-state batteries can charge from zero to 65% in five minutes. An impressive feat that could destroy one of the roadblocks to EV adoption: long charging times. As charging infrastructure continues to expand and higher charging rates become the norm, there's a good chance that by the end of the decade, the stations and some of the new EVs in the market will be able to refuel just as quickly as a gas vehicle.