What just happened? Nissan is one step closer to rolling out game-changing battery technology that could further accelerate the popularity of electric vehicles. The Japanese automaker on Friday announced a prototype production facility for solid-state battery cells. These advanced batteries have approximately twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries and will cost less to produce thanks to their use of cheaper materials.

According to a report from the Associated Press, Nissan is working with NASA on the project. When complete, the battery tech will be stable enough for use in a pacemaker. For vehicle applications, the solid-state batteries will be about half the size of current packs and achieve a full charge in just 15 minutes.

Quick-charge batteries could be instrumental in getting consumers to trade in their gasoline-powered vehicles for fully electric models, especially if they are compatible with existing charging infrastructure. Assuming range is comparable to current EVs, range anxiety could soon become a thing of the past.

Nissan plans to open a pilot production line at its Yokohama Plant in fiscal 2024 with the goal of launching EVs with solid-state batteries developed in-house by fiscal 2028.

While promising, it's important to keep expectations in check. Such is especially true when it comes to battery technology as we've been promised game-changing advances in the past that never made it out of the lab. It could be different this time as the future of the automotive industry is riding on it.

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