Donut Lab claims solid-state battery breakthrough that could reset electric vehicle economics
The Estonian start-up says its new “Donut” battery delivers ultra-fast charging, extreme longevity and high energy density without the safety risks and material costs that have held back solid-state technology.
Donut Lab says it has developed the world’s first production-ready solid-state battery, a long-promised advance often described as the holy grail of energy storage.
The company claims its battery can charge fully in minutes, operate with effectively zero fire risk and last for up to 100,000 charge cycles, equivalent to tens of millions of miles in an electric vehicle. Donut Lab says the technology could extend the range of an electric saloon such as the Lucid Air from 512 miles to around 730 miles without increasing battery weight.
The company has operated largely in stealth for almost a decade and only recently began detailing its technology publicly, prompting both excitement and scepticism across the industry.
Why solid-state batteries matter
Conventional lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte to move ions between the anode and cathode. That liquid is flammable, degrades over time and allows the formation of lithium dendrites, microscopic metal spikes that limit charging speed and can cause internal short circuits.
Solid-state batteries replace the liquid with a solid electrolyte. In theory, this enables higher energy density, faster charging, far greater safety and the use of alternative electrode materials. In practice, engineering challenges around interface resistance, cracking and manufacturability have kept solid-state systems “five years away” for more than a decade.
If Donut Lab’s claims hold, those trade-offs may finally have been resolved.
The Donut battery explained
Donut Lab says its pouch-cell solid-state battery delivers around 400 watt hours per kilogram, well above the roughly 280 watt hours per kilogram typical of today’s lithium-ion packs. It claims charge rates of up to 11C to 12C, allowing a full charge in under five minutes, even without active cooling.
The battery is described as non-combustible, non-flammable and resistant to puncture, with no risk of thermal runaway. Donut Lab also claims stable performance across a wide temperature range, retaining more than 99% capacity between minus 30 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius.
Crucially, the company says the battery avoids expensive and geopolitically sensitive materials such as cobalt, nickel and lithium, and can be priced on a par with lithium-ion from the outset.
Applications move beyond the lab
The first commercial application will be an electric motorcycle, the Verge TS Pro, which Donut Lab says will enter production within months. The battery’s high power density also makes it attractive for drones, robotics and grid storage.
Donut Lab plans to manufacture the cells itself rather than license the technology, producing 125 watt hour pouch cells that can be assembled into modules of around five kilowatt hours. The design allows the battery to act as a drop-in replacement for existing lithium-ion systems.
Evidence, validation and open questions
Demonstrations have shown cells charging at high currents with limited temperature rise, but questions remain around thermal management, test conditions and long-term durability. Third-party validation and certification are under way, with Donut Lab saying curated performance data will be released as testing progresses.
The company has disclosed little about its chemistry, citing trade secrets, though it has confirmed the use of a proprietary solid electrolyte and a non-lithium system with a nominal voltage similar to lithium-ion cells.
Why it matters for the industry
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If independently verified at scale, the Donut battery would challenge core assumptions in electric vehicles and energy storage. Ultra-fast charging removes a major consumer barrier. Extreme cycle life makes batteries effectively “immortal” for vehicle use. Safer chemistry reduces cooling, packaging and insurance costs.
Perhaps most importantly, removing reliance on scarce materials could ease supply constraints as electrification accelerates. Solid-state batteries have long promised this future. Donut Lab is now betting it can finally deliver it.
