Sunderland battery factory boosts UK capacity

author: FutureCar Staff    

Nissan is making significant progress with its EV360 battery factory near Sunderland. The factory is set to start producing low-cobalt lithium-ion batteries by the middle of the decade. According to insiders, it has the potential to produce over a third of the 100GWh battery capacity needed in the entire UK by 2030.

The new factory is expected to open by 2026 and will have an initial battery capacity of 9GWh. This will be enough to cater to a new post-Ariya EV that Nissan plans to manufacture in Sunderland later this decade. The factory, even in its first phase, will be as large as 23 football pitches and taller than the Angel of the North.

Nissan has plans to expand the EV360 facility further in the future. If there is enough demand, the factory could eventually produce up to 35GWh of batteries.

In addition to the battery factory, Nissan has also announced its commitment to electric vehicles. The company has stated that all future European Nissan vehicles will be 100% electric. Globally, Nissan plans to launch 27 electrified models, including 19 pure EVs, by 2030.

Furthermore, Nissan has provided updates on its solid-state battery design, known as ASSB. The new batteries are expected to double the energy density of existing designs and have the ability to charge at three times the present rate. This opens up possibilities for using smaller and lighter batteries, as well as changing car proportions.

Nissan aims to have a solid-state battery pilot plant operational next year and plans to perfect a full-scale manufacturing process by 2026. The company promises to launch at least one production model that utilizes ASSB batteries somewhere in the world by 2028.

FutureCar Staff