Nissan GT-R EV to launch as everyman's supercar after 2028 solid-state battery production start

After unveiling the radical Hyper Force EV, Nissan confirmed that the renowned GT-R the concept was seemingly based on will indeed be getting an electric successor in the not-so-distant future. Although, enthusiasts may have to wait for solid-state battery tech to mature before getting their hopes up about a GT-R EV, according to a Top Gear interview with Nissan's global product boss, Ivan Espinosa. 

In the interview, Espinosa emphasises the importance of weight when it comes to a supercar-killer like the GT-R. This makes it necessary to develop battery technology that can deliver appropriate output and capacity in a lightweight, compact package. To Nissan, that battery solution is the all-solid-state battery (ASSB), and the company is already working on bringing that tech to market.

"The biggest enemy of hypercars is weight, and batteries are heavy, so we need to wait until the ASSB is out, it’s stable and it’s ready, so we can go." – Ivan Espinosa, Senior Vice President, Global Product Strategy and Product Planning Division at Nissan

While modern EV batteries have certainly come a long way, estimates still put them at around 450 – 910 kg (~1,000 – 2,000 lbs), with closer to the latter figure being the norm for high-powered vehicles like sports cars. As a result, electric sports cars, like the Tesla Model S Plaid and Porsche Taycan Turbo S weigh in at a portly 2,265 kg (4,993 lbs) and 2,130 kg (4,696 lbs), respectively. By contrast, the current-generation Nissan GT-R with a petrol engine weighs in at just 1725 – 1752 kg (3,803 – 3,863 lbs).

Like Toyota and other car brands, Nissan is developing its own in-house solid-state battery tech to complement the launch of the GT-R, and it estimates it should have a viable product as soon as 2028 — although it might be a while before ASSBs are cheap enough for an affordable supercar-killer to use.

The lighter weight and high output of ASSBs should work result in a nimble car that accelerates and decelerates faster than the current crop of electric sports sedans — especially if it has the ludicrous 1,341-hp drivetrain of the Hyper Force concept.

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