Honda and QuantumScape (QS) announced a new partnership to commercialize solid-state batteries for EVs and more.
Honda, QuantumScape enter solid-state battery tie-up
After its Eagle Line for solid-state batteries went live earlier this year, QuantumScape announced another major milestone on Thursday.
QuantumScape secured a partnership with Honda, its second major OEM following Volkswagen, to develop and manufacture solid-state batteries.
The multi-year joint research agreement comes after Honda tested QuantumScape’s solid-state technology platform during an “in-depth, hands-on technical study” in which it was benchmarked against competitors.
According to Atsushi Ogawa, chief operating officer at Honda’s Research Center of Excellence, QS’s battery tech “demonstrated compelling and unique advantages during our evaluation.”
Ogawa added that Honda sees “We see potential for QS technology to add value across a range of applications, including automotive.”
Advantages of all-solid-state batteries (Source: Honda)
Beyond electric vehicles, QuantumScape’s solid-state batteries are expected to be used for Honda’s motorcycles, power equipment, and likely energy storage.
The partnership will focus on solid-state battery development and manufacturing methods. In January 2025, Honda announced it had begun pilot production of solid-state batteries at its Sakura plant in Japan.
Potential uses for solid-state batteries (Source: Honda)
Honda said the all-solid-state battery “will be a game changer in this EV era,” but has since drastically scaled back its electrification plans.
In September, Volkswagen revealed the first test vehicle with a solid-state battery, a heavily modified Ducati V21L using QuantumScape’s QSE-5 cells.
QuantumScape QSE-5 B sample solid-state battery tech specs (Source: QuantumScape)
Volkswagen said that QuantumScape’s solid-state tech with a lithium metal anode and a ceramic separator “offers significant advantages in terms of energy density, fast charging capability, safety, and lifecycle” over traditional lithium-ion batteries.
QuantumScape’s QSE-5 B sample features an energy density of 844 Wh/L and can fast charge from 10% to 80% in 12.2 minutes.
Its Eagle Line incorporates its fast separator production process, Cobra, which QuantumScape said enables the solid-state battery tech to be manufactured at a gigawatt-hour scale.
QuantumScape (QS) shares rose 12% after announcing the new solid-state battery partnership with Honda
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