- The world’s first solid-state battery built on a motorcycle will be available in the US this year, Verge Motorcycles claims.
- Developed by Finland-based Donut Lab, the battery gets 400 watt-hours per kilogram of energy density.
- Donat says it can be charged in just five minutes and is not prone to fires.
The first car in the U.S. that you can actually buy with an all-solid-state battery isn’t just any long-promising electric car from an older automaker. Apparently, it’s a high-end electric motorcycle from Europe.
Estonia-based Verge Motorcycles said on Friday that its TS Pro electric superbike is the first in the world to enter production with… All solid state batteries. No, it won’t come by the end of the decade or any far-off future timeline. Customer deliveries in the US will begin in the first quarter of this year.
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Source: Edge Motorcycles
The bike itself looks like it came straight out of the sci-fi movie Tron. The most striking feature is a Hubless rear wheelwith the motor integrated directly into the rim, leaving a large gap where you would normally expect spokes and brakes.
Now Donut Lab, the Finnish startup that pioneered it The hubless rear motor design has been around for yearsclaims to have achieved something far more ambitious: bringing a fully solid-state battery into real-world production.
Automakers and battery companies have been reviving this hallowed battery technology for years. Donut Lab now claims to have beaten Toyota, QuantumScape and other companies by developing the first fully production solid-state battery ready for use by manufacturers.
The batteries have 400 watt-hours per kilogram of energy density, enough to provide a range of up to 370 miles (600 km) on the Verge superbike. This is much more than the energy density of 200-300 Wh/kg found in typical lithium-ion batteries today.
Photography: Verge Motorcycles
The current version of the TS Pro is already on sale with lithium-ion batteries. The new versions will include solid-state packs, reducing weight and improving charging performance.
“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,” Marco Lehmäki, CEO of Donut Lab, said in a press release. “Donut Lab has designed a new high-performance solid-state Donut battery that can be scaled to high production volumes and can now be seen in real-world use on Verge Motorcycles’ road bikes in the first quarter.”
Traditional lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte to facilitate the movement of ions during charge and discharge cycles. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid material made of polymers, sulfides, or oxides. Automakers and battery experts say the material could address range and charging anxiety while also dramatically improving performance in extreme weather conditions, safety and lifespan.
Photography: Verge Motorcycles
Two versions of the TS Pro will be available initially, one with a standard battery and one with a large battery. The standard battery model gets 20.2 kilowatt-hours of battery capacity, providing about 217 miles of manufacturer-estimated range. The larger battery costs about $5,000 more and offers a range of 370 miles. Both feel very powerful, with 737 pound-feet of torque and 0-60 mph acceleration in just 3.5 seconds.
However, the key features of these batteries extend beyond the range they provide. Donat says the battery can be fully charged in just five minutes, which is roughly the time it takes to refuel a gasoline car. Verge Motorcycles’ claim is a little different, stating that the TS Pro can fast charge at 200 kilowatts and fully charges in less than 10 minutes. The bike also comes with a built-in Tesla-style NACS charging port.
Furthermore, Donut claims that its battery can hold its capacity for up to 100,000 cycles, which far exceeds the current cycle limits of lithium-ion batteries. Because the cells don’t use a flammable liquid electrolyte, the company says they’re not susceptible to thermal runaway or metal dendrites, which are tiny internal spikes that can damage cells and cause failure. In other words, the usual root causes of battery fires are designed out of the system, at least in theory.
Photography: Verge Motorcycles
However, all that range, power, safety, and charging performance doesn’t come cheap. The base TS Pro model starts at $29,900 in the US, while the larger-battery model costs $34,900, excluding destination and other charges.
This is potentially a big step forward for solid-state battery technology, although it is currently only available on two wheels, wrapped in carbon fiber and priced accordingly.
Do you have any advice? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
