Suzuki acquires Kanadevia’s solid-state battery division
Until 1 October 2024, Kanadevia traded under the name Hitachi Zosen Corporation. The rebranding was intended to mark the company’s shift from shipbuilding and heavy industry to a provider of decarbonisation and environmental technologies. In fact, Kanadevia began developing solid-state batteries as early as 2006 – at a time when the technology had yet to attract the media attention it enjoys today.
Under the brand name AS-LiB, Kanadevia launched its first solid-state batteries for specialist applications in 2024. These have already been deployed in high-temperature industrial environments, such as semiconductor production. Additionally, in collaboration with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a solid-state battery was installed on the exterior of the International Space Station’s ‘Kibo’ module in 2022. There, it demonstrated its functionality under vacuum conditions and extreme radiation and temperature fluctuations. JAXA has since certified Kanadevia’s solid-state battery as suitable for space applications.
With this acquisition, Suzuki aims to close the gap with other automakers planning to integrate solid-state batteries into their vehicles. Japanese rivals Nissan and Toyota have already announced such plans, while global players like Mercedes, Stellantis, and Volkswagen are also investing in the technology. These companies have partnered with firms such as Factorial (Mercedes/Stellantis) and QuantumScape (VW) to advance their efforts.
Suzuki has not yet revealed concrete plans but stated the following regarding the acquisition: “Through its proprietary dry manufacturing process, Kanadevia’s all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries offer high safety, including the absence of liquid leakage, excellent environmental resistance, and operation across a wide temperature range.” For Suzuki, solid-state batteries could be particularly advantageous for Kei cars and motorcycles, as they require less space than conventional batteries.
Kanadevia, meanwhile, justified the sale of its division by pointing to the significantly intensified competition in the solid-state lithium-ion battery sector in recent years, “increasing the need for rapid advancement in the performance of AS-LiB, the establishment of mass production capabilities, and the strengthening of its sales framework.” After evaluating various potential partnerships, the company concluded that selling the business unit to Suzuki would best enable the further development of the technology.
Solid-state batteries are considered the technology of the future, promising higher energy density, faster charging, greater range, and enhanced safety compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This is achieved, among other factors, by replacing the liquid, often flammable electrolyte in the battery with a solid, ion-conducting material.
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