QuantumScape has signed a multi-year joint research agreement with Honda R&D to develop its QS solid-state lithium-metal battery platform and manufacturing processes. The deal follows Honda’s completion of a hands-on technical evaluation and benchmarking. The technology promises greater energy density, faster charging and improved safety for automotive and other applications.
QuantumScape, the San Jose, California solid-state lithium-metal battery developer, has entered a joint research agreement with Honda R&D Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., to advance QuantumScape’s QS battery platform.
The agreement includes a multi-year plan focused on solid-state battery development and the associated manufacturing processes, drawing on contributions from both companies.
The deal follows Honda’s completion of a technology evaluation agreement with QuantumScape, which involved a hands-on technical study of the company’s solid-state platform alongside competitive benchmarking across a range of standard technical tests.
“QS technology demonstrated compelling and unique advantages during our evaluation,” says Atsushi Ogawa, chief operating officer at the Research Center of Excellence, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. “We see potential for QS technology to add value across a range of applications, including automotive, and we are excited to move forward into the next phase of our partnership.”
According to Dr. Siva Sivaram, chief executive and president at QuantumScape, Honda’s evaluation represented one of the most rigorous assessments of the technology to date.
“Honda is a leading global automaker renowned for its engineering excellence and product quality across automotive and other applications worldwide, and its evaluation represents one of the most rigorous assessments of our technology to date,” says Sivaram. “This agreement reflects the growing confidence in QS solid-state lithium-metal batteries to enable safer, higher-density energy storage.”
QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal battery technology is designed to deliver greater energy density, faster charging and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion cells.
The companies have not disclosed financial terms of the agreement, specific technical milestones, or a timeline for commercialization. They have also not specified which Honda applications, beyond automotive, the technology might serve.
