- Donut Lab claims to have created the world’s first production-ready all-solid-state battery.
- The liquid-free cell has approximately twice the energy density of a typical Tesla battery.
- Charging speeds that are on par with gas filling, extreme safety and unparalleled longevity are part of the promise as well.
It’s finally happening, guys. The world’s first fully solid-state battery has become commercially available and production-ready, and promises to revolutionize the world of electric vehicles, from cars and motorcycles to big excavators and construction equipment. At least that’s what Donut Lab, the battery manufacturer, claims.
The startup known as An electric motor inside a sci-fi wheel Verge, which powers electric motorcycles, claims its game-changing liquid-free battery cells and modules are now available in gigawatt-hour capacity to companies around the world. Verge Motorcycles said its updated TS Pro two-wheeler will become the world’s first solid-state electric vehicle when it reaches customers in the first quarter of this year.
So, what makes this battery special? Well, almost everything. They are lighter, more energy dense, safer, lighter, faster to charge, more flexible and, most importantly, promise greater range than traditional lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes.
According to Donut Lab, its production-ready, all-solid-state battery has an energy density of 400 Wh/kg and can be fully charged in less than five minutes for up to 100,000 cycles, without the need to limit the charge to 80%. In comparison, some of the traditional high-end Li-ion batteries available today have an energy density of around 250-300 Wh/kg and can last for up to 5,000 full cycles, with a maximum state of charge of 80%.
Furthermore, extreme temperatures have little to no effect on Donut’s solid-state battery, with the startup claiming that its product retained more than 99% of its capacity at temperatures as low as -22°F (-30°C) and as high as 212°F (100°C).
Photo by: Donut Lab
On the safety front, the startup claims that the battery will not catch fire if damaged, and that it can be manufactured almost anywhere in the world because it does not use rare materials. Donut Lab did not specify the materials needed to make the solid-state cells, but said they are “100% green, made from materials found everywhere,” making them immune to geopolitical issues. The startup also claims that its solid-state cells are cheaper to build than comparable lithium-ion batteries.
In the real world, we have the Verge’s TS Pro motorcycle as a reference for what solid-state batteries can offer. The previous model was available with a conventional lithium-ion battery that enabled 217 miles of city driving, while charging time was described as less than 35 minutes. The new model, powered by Donut’s solid-state battery, is also capable of 217 miles in standard guise, but the larger battery option, which fits in the same cradle, can increase the range to 370 miles. But the charging time has been dramatically reduced to less than 10 minutes, with the Verge saying it intentionally designed the new bike to take longer to charge, so riders can enjoy a coffee while waiting.
Photo by: Donut Lab
“Although the advantages are clear, the future of solid-state batteries has been a moving target that is constantly delayed when electric companies are asked when they will become a reality,” said Marko Lehmäki, CEO of Donut Lab. “At Donut Lab, our answer to solid-state batteries that are ready for use in OEM production vehicles is now, today, not later. Donut Lab has designed a new high-performance Donut solid-state battery that can be scaled to large production volumes and is now being seen in real-world use on Verge Motorcycles’ road bikes in the first quarter.”
Donut Lab’s all-solid-state battery will be on display Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in Las Vegas, which opens on January 6.
