Honda has been promising to unlock the power of all-solid-state EV batteries for several years. Today, we are getting our first look at the progress. Honda unveiled a demonstration production line as it continues to advance promising new battery technology.

By 2050, Honda wants all its products and corporate activities to be carbon neutral. Although electric vehicles are essential to this mission, Honda believes improvements are needed.

Since the battery is such a critical component for EVs, the company aims to unlock more driving range at a lower cost with new chemistries.

Honda is developing all-solid-state EV batteries in-house to power up its next-gen vehicles. It’s not “merely trying to establish a lab-level technology,” Honda is eyeing mass production in the coming years.

On Wednesday, Honda unveiled its demonstration production line for all-solid-state EV batteries, giving us our first look at the progress.

The line is located at Honda’s R&D facility in Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Honda will use the demo line as a preface for mass production while determining the basic specifications of the battery cells.

Honda is launching EVs with all-solid-state batteries

Honda plans to launch electric models with the new all-solid-state battery tech in the “second half of the 2020s.”

The new demo line replicates the processes required for mass production. It covers around 295,000 ft² (27,400 m²) and is already equipped with the tools to verify each production process, including weighing and mixing electrode materials, coating, and roll pressing electrode assemblies. The line also supports the formation of cells and the assembly of the module.

After the new facility was completed this spring, all the equipment needed for verification is now in place.

Honda plans to begin production on the new demo line in January 2025. With a highly efficient production process and a wide range of use cases, including automobiles, motorcycles, and aircraft, Honda aims to slash battery costs.

To speed up development, Honda is conducting “speedy research” in two main areas: material specifications and manufacturing methods.

The company plans to start mass producing all-solid-state EV batteries in the second half of the 2020s.

Ahead of its 2050 carbon neutrality target, Honda aims for 100% of global vehicle sales to be EV or FCEV by 2040. Honda believes the new battery tech will be its differentiator.

There are typically a few common factors that make it hard to enjoy a bit of speed, but unlike most electric scooters on the market, Ausom managed to get just right with their new Leopard DT1 pro scooter. 

Of course, given that you’re in a safe area where it’s legal to get some speed going. Going fast on an electric scooter typically means you start worrying about things like how expensive it’s going to be, braking power, handling, suspension, and battery life. Fortunately in this case Ausom created a powerful 2*1000w motor scooter that’s both fast and feels stable enough to make you want to go faster than 41 mph. 

For a limited time, get an extra $50 off with promo code Electrek50 for Black Friday.

Even if you’re not planning to go the top speed, 2000 watts of motor in the scooter’s race mode setting is enough torque to have plenty of fun. On top of the fun aspect of having that much power instantly, if you ever need to go up a steep hill or need to accelerate quickly in order to get out of a potentially dangerous spot in traffic, the Ausom dt1 pro will do it without hesitation. 

Now if you’re going to flip on that dual motor function you’ll be rest assured when it comes to braking because Ausom included E-ABS front and rear hydraulic brakes that can give you some serious braking power. On top of that for even more safety they included some stylish turn signals which are beautifully integrated into the natural shape of the scooter rather than having some protruding signals. There’s also a headlight and rear light for further visibility. 

Another factor to consider for high speeds is battery life and range, but thankfully aside from coming with a 52v 18.2 ah battery and 47 miles of range the scooter also comes with easy-to-use controls to switch from different modes. If you need to get the most distance out of the battery, being able to quickly and easily switch to a single motor and also go to eco-mode makes a huge difference. To navigate the control, the company uses a big LCD screen that can quickly give you a reading on speed, mode, battery life, and more. For charging, Ausom knows how to deliver with the use of Dual-port charging for quicker and safer power-ups in around 4-5 hours. 

For security, Ausom included an NFC security lock, which, unlike a traditional metal key, takes just a tap to unlock. In terms of overall features, Ausom includes some pretty convenient and smart features. For those who live in an urban area, you’re probably not a stranger to using an air tag on things like motorcycles or bikes for tracking purposes. Ausom had that thought out and included a special slot to hold an air tag. They also include a USB-A and USB-C charging port in order to charge your phone. 

At just $1,099 (with promo code Electrek50) Ausom is packing a ton of value here with the Leopard dt1pro. Balancing out price, speed, and good handling is not easy but Ausom’s thick tires and swing arm suspension make it comfortable even when rolling down something like a steep curb or getting over some thick obstacles on the road. 

Normally electric scooters might feel scarier to ride compared to bikes but the size and construction of the dt1pro was designed to be comfortable and easily maneuverable even at high speeds. For an even better deal, you can use promo code Electrek50 for $50 off the Leopard DT1, DT Pro, or the Gallop SR1 E-scooters from Ausom. If you’re looking for a bigger discount feel free to use code Electrek110 for $110 off the GX1 E-Scooter. 

You can find Ausom’s full lineup through their website here