Solid-state batteries are a hot topic in the EV world—they theoretically off higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, as well as an improved safety profile and other advantages. Many, many companies are working on SSBs, and automakers are testing them, but we haven’t yet seen large-scale deployment of all-solid-state cells in a production vehicle.
So, when a company called Donut Lab announced that its solid-state batteries are now “ready for OEM use,” and would be deployed in sister company’s Verge Motorcycles’ 2026 models in the first quarter of this year, it harvested a host of headlines.
Donut Lab says its all-solid-state battery delivers 400 Wh/kg of specific energy, and is designed to last up to 100,000 cycles with minimal capacity fade. Extreme temperatures are no problem: the battery retains over 99% of its capacity from -30° to 100° C.
But wait! There’s more: Donut’s SSB “is made entirely from abundant, affordable and geopolitically safe materials, does not rely on rare or sensitive elements, and demonstrates a lower cost than lithium-ion [batteries].” It can be produced in custom sizes, voltages and geometries, enabling structural integration and other specialized applications.
“While the advantages are obvious, the future of solid-state batteries has been a moving target, constantly delayed,” said Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehtimäki. “Our answer on solid-state batteries being ready for use in OEM production vehicles is now, today, not later. Donut Lab has engineered a new high-performance solid-state Donut Battery that can be scaled to major production volumes and is seen now in real-world use in the Verge Motorcycles bikes on the road in Q1. Donut Lab waited to announce our solid-state battery breakthrough until the technology was fully tested, validated, and already operating in vehicles.”
Donut Lab is also providing its SSBs to WATT Electric Vehicles, Cova Power Smart Trailer (a joint venture between Ahola Group and Donut Lab) and the ESOX Group, a provider of defense-grade platforms.
Not everyone is convinced that a new EV era is at hand. Battery scientist Tom Boetticher posted on LinkedIn that Donut Labs’ claims “made many battery scientists highly skeptical,” noting that “there is no comparable solid-state cell anywhere in the world that achieves these specifications.” It appears that Donut’s SSB tech comes from Nordic Nano, a company in which Donut is an investor.
Skepticism about a major breakthrough such as this is to be expected. Considering the plethora of publicity around Donut’s announcement, it seems certain that more details and data will be forthcoming soon.
Electrek’s Fred Lambert points out that if Verge Motorcycles succeeds in delivering solid-state batteries in production vehicles in early 2026, it will have “beaten the entire global automotive industry to the punch.” Runners-up in the SSB race would include not only Quantumscape and Ducati, who unveiled a demonstration bike solid-state cells last September, but heavyweights such as Samsung SDI and Schaeffler (to say nothing of Toyota, which has been talking trash about SSBs for a decade).
We shall see.
Source: Donut Lab
