--- title: "Honda Exec Says Lithium-Ion EVs Won’t Ever Be as Cheap as Gas Cars" date: "2022-08-31" modified: "2022-08-31" authors: - name: "Victoria Scott" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/victoria-scott" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/honda-exec-says-lithium-ion-evs-wont-ever-be-as-cheap-as-gas-cars" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "Manufacturing" - "News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "honda" --- # Honda Exec Says Lithium-Ion EVs Won’t Ever Be as Cheap as Gas Cars ![]() *\Honda\* Acura's first EV, [a GM-codeveloped SUV](), is finally on its way, and it's likely the expensive lithium batteries inside it mean it'll cost more than a similar ICE SUV, according to the Vice President of Business and Sales for American Honda Dave Gardner. He told *The Drive* last week that current battery technology won't reach the affordability it needs for cost parity with existing ICE vehicles, and instead, Honda is betting on solid-state batteries. While all mass-market electric cars currently for sale currently use some form of [lithium-ion battery]() for power storage, Gardner said "We \[Honda\] don't really believe that the current lithium-ion technology is the long-term solution." Instead, Gardner said that solid-state batteries, a [still-developing technology]() that's only been used in a few [prototype EVs](), are going to be "the game changer for us," as it will allow for lower-priced EVs that are "in the neighborhood of what a nice \[ICE\] vehicle costs." While he admits that solid-state batteries are "not around the corner", he also said Honda is actively working on their development and has increased its R&D efforts into them, and is now attempting to do small-scale tests. And those small-scale tests keep getting bigger: Honda announced Monday that it is investing [$310 million into an experimental production line project]() to test mass production of solid-state batteries. ![]() *Acura Precision EV Concept Acura* Honda isn't alone, either, as the entire industry has had to grapple with the same problems Gardner discussed. While lithium-ion batteries have gone from a staggering $1,200 per kWh of power stored to a much more reasonable $132/kWh [over the past decade](), the raw materials needed to construct them have been subject to [supply-chain issues]() and [questionable mining practices]() that could limit further cost reductions—or even roll back the advances that have [already been made](). Meanwhile, some manufacturers believe that true price parity between ICE vehicles and EVs won't be [reached until batteries reach $50/kWh](), which likely won't be attainable with current technology. Some research suggests that nearly all the energy that can be theoretically stored in a [conventional battery cell has been found](), and further cost decreases will have to [come from cheaper raw materials](), rather than increased efficiency in the battery itself. Without significantly cheaper raw materials—[that likely aren't going to be found]()—today might be as cheap as lithium-ion EVs can *get.* All this that makes Gardner's belief that solid-state batteries will "be the turning point in terms of crossing that affordability threshold" seem downright likely. When they get here, though, is anyone's guess; even Gardner said "when that's exactly going to happen... I can't tell you that." ## Author Victoria Scott is a former staff writer for The Drive. She began in the automotive industry as a freelancer in early 2021, fresh out of a programming job at NASA Mission Control. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]() [Twitter]()