Another big car brand is testing solid-state EV batteries, just not in the way you’d expect

One more major player in the auto industry is now testing the “holy grail” of electric vehicle batteries. Solid-state EV batteries promise longer driving ranges, faster charging, and significantly higher energy density. However, this carmaker is using them in a unique way.

Subaru begins testing all-solid-state EV batteries

Subaru isn’t the first car brand that comes to mind when considering electric vehicles. Like other Japanese automakers, including Toyota, Subaru has been one of the biggest laggards in the shift to EVs.

However, Subaru, like many automakers, sees solid-state batteries as a way of unlocking the full potential of battery electric vehicles.

The Japanese automaker began testing all-solid-state batteries at its Oizumi plant in Japan, but not in the way you would think.

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Subaru is using all-solid-state batteries to power robots at the facility, which are used to automate the production process. Typically, batteries in industrial equipment only last one to two years. The all-solid-state batteries will last over 10 years without replacement, Subaru said.

By the end of the month, Subaru will begin testing solid-state batteries in vehicles. However, the battery packs used for its robots are way too small to power an EV.

Maxwell Ltd. manufactures the ceramic-packaged all-solid-state battery packs, which are typically used in industrial equipment.

By the end of the decade, Maxwell aims to offer solid-state batteries for other applications, including “automotive devices.” The Japanese electronics firm sees a possibility that its tech could end up in vehicles, but not anytime soon. For the time being, it will focus on smaller battery packs.

A spokesperson from Subaru told Automotive News that the company is still exploring future battery chemistries and has yet to decide on solid-state batteries for EVs.

Although a solid-state battery-powered EV from Subaru is not expected anytime soon, it is launching several new all-electric vehicles, including the updated Solterra and Trailseeker SUVs. Subaru, like a handful of other brands, is reconsidering its EV strategy in the US due to the changes under the Trump administration, including the removal of the federal tax credit.

The news follows Nissan’s announcement this week of a partnership with US-based LiCAP Technologies to develop a dry electrode production process for mass-producing all-solid-state EV batteries.

Electrek’s Take

Many major car brands are pursuing the “holy grail” of EV batteries, including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Stellantis, to name a few. Global battery leaders, CATL and BYD, expect to launch their first EVs powered by solid-state batteries around 2027. Others are aiming for the end of the decade.

In February, Mercedes claimed to have put “the first car powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery on the road” using a modified EQS prototype. BMW announced a similar feat a few months later in May.

Meanwhile, SAIC MG is preparing to launch the first EV with a semi-solid-state battery, the new MG4, which will be sold globally. The company will reveal prices in September, with deliveries set to begin before the end of 2025.

And these are just the auto brands. Several other startups and tech companies are also looking to unlock new battery technology.

Which company will be the first to launch the new battery tech on a mass scale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.