Donut Lab claims its solid-state EV battery is ready for production use

Donut Lab says it has developed what it describes as a solid-state battery that is ready for use in production vehicles, and the company claims the technology will begin appearing in consumer applications as soon as early 2026. According to the company, its batteries will initially be deployed in Verge Motorcycles models and will be offered to automotive OEMs for broader use.

Solid-state batteries have long been discussed as a next step for electric vehicles because they replace liquid electrolytes with solid materials, potentially improving safety and energy density. Despite years of development across the industry, few companies have brought solid-state packs into production vehicles, and most timelines have remained uncertain. Donut Lab says its cells address these delays and are suitable for large-scale manufacturing today.

The company states its new “Donut Battery” is an all-solid-state design with an energy density of 400 Wh/kg. If accurate, that figure would exceed many conventional lithium-ion chemistries currently in mass-produced EVs. Donut Lab says this level of density could translate to lighter vehicles or increased range compared to batteries using similar packaging and form factors.

Charging performance is another key claim. Donut Lab asserts the pack can charge from empty to full in approximately five minutes without limiting charge to 80 percent, a ceiling that many existing EVs impose to preserve battery longevity. The company also says the battery can safely discharge fully, repeatedly, without causing significant degradation. According to its internal testing, Donut Lab estimates a design life of up to 100,000 cycles, and says capacity fade is “minimal” over time. Independent verification of those claims has not yet been presented.

Safety is emphasized throughout the announcement. Because the battery does not use flammable liquid electrolytes, Donut Lab maintains that the risk of thermal runaway—the chain reaction that can cause conventional packs to ignite—has been reduced. The company also says the design avoids metallic dendrite growth, which can create internal short circuits under some conditions in lithium-ion cells. Donut Lab argues that by eliminating common failure points, the battery could lower the likelihood of fires or catastrophic failures in the event of damage or misuse.

The company also reports favorable results in temperature-related testing. According to Donut Lab, the pack retains more than 99 percent of its capacity at –30°C and maintains the same capacity even when heated to beyond 100°C, with no ignition events observed. Those thermal claims, if realized in production environments, would address a significant limitation in many EVs, which currently see reduced performance and charging capability in cold weather.

Beyond performance metrics, Donut Lab stresses material availability and cost. The battery is said to use what the company calls abundant and geopolitically stable resources, avoiding rare or sensitive elements often associated with supply-chain constraints. Donut Lab claims its technology results in costs lower than lithium-ion batteries, although detailed pricing data and production cost breakdowns have not been disclosed. Battery cost remains one of the most significant barriers to EV affordability and broader adoption.

The company positions the Donut Battery as adaptable across a broad range of industries, with customizable shapes, voltages, and structural applications. Donut Lab suggests the battery can be formed into unconventional geometries, potentially functioning as both an energy source and a load-bearing structure, such as part of a vehicle frame or drone body. That concept aligns with ongoing industry efforts to integrate batteries into vehicle architecture more directly to reduce weight and packaging complexity.

This development follows Donut Lab’s previous introduction of the “Donut Motor,” an in-wheel electric motor unveiled at CES 2025. According to the company, the motor allows electric drivetrains to function without traditional components such as axles or transmissions, consolidating propulsion elements at the wheel hub. Donut Lab says more than 200 OEMs have engaged with the technology for development and testing, though production partnerships have not been detailed publicly.

At CES 2026, Donut Lab is presenting the solid-state battery alongside several partner demonstrations. Verge Motorcycles is the highest-profile adopter mentioned in the announcement. Verge plans to use the battery technology in its electric motorcycles, including models like the TS Pro and Ultra. The company claims the motorcycles equipped with the Donut Battery will charge in less than 10 minutes and offer up to 600 kilometers (approximately 373 miles) of range. Verge says orders are open now, with first deliveries planned for the first quarter of 2026.

The press release also outlines partnerships outside the motorcycle segment. WATT Electric Vehicles is collaborating with Donut Lab on a lightweight modular EV platform that integrates the battery, motors, and control systems. The “skateboard” platform will be shown at CES and is designed to support multiple vehicle types. Cova Power, a joint venture involving Ahola Group, plans to use the technology in smart trailers aimed at reducing diesel use by supplementing power through electric assistance. Donut Lab claims the trailers could reduce diesel consumption by up to 54 percent and total energy use by up to 30 percent in certain operating scenarios.

Defense and industrial applications are also part of Donut Lab’s strategy. Through its partnership with ESOX Group, the company says the battery is being evaluated for tactical ground vehicles and drones, where reliability in harsh environments is especially important. Donut Lab suggests that the thermal and safety characteristics of its solid-state design could be advantageous in settings where failure risks are unacceptable.

In addition to transportation, Donut Lab promotes broader potential uses such as grid storage, data centers, and fast-charging infrastructure, arguing that long cycle life and safety could make the technology suitable for stationary applications. Many energy analysts have pointed out that long-duration storage and high-durability systems will be necessary to balance increasingly renewable-heavy electrical grids. However, Donut Lab does not provide timelines or specific customers in these non-automotive sectors.

Donut Lab’s messaging positions its battery as “no-compromise,” contrasting it with previous solid-state efforts that were limited by cost or scalability. Historically, many manufacturers have cited challenges scaling solid-state batteries beyond laboratory prototypes due to difficulties in producing solid electrolytes reliably at mass-production levels. Donut Lab maintains that it has solved these obstacles and that its solution is already operating in real vehicles, at least within partner test fleets.

While the claims laid out in the announcement are ambitious, the broader EV industry has seen repeated delays and challenges around similar technologies. Proof of durability, mass-manufacturing viability, and real-world safety data will likely determine whether Donut Lab’s battery becomes a significant shift or remains one of several experimental approaches. At the time of this announcement, third-party testing data and regulatory approvals were not referenced publicly.

Still, if Donut Lab’s technology performs as described and reaches meaningful production volumes, it could influence the trajectory of EV development. Higher energy density, faster charging, improved safety, and lower costs are the central pressures facing manufacturers as electric vehicles move toward wider adoption. Solid-state cells have been viewed as one possible pathway toward addressing all four at once.

For now, Verge Motorcycles is expected to be the first visible test case. Production motorcycles equipped with Donut Lab batteries on public roads may provide the clearest early indication of whether the technology can transition from controlled demonstration environments to daily use. OEM adoption, if it follows, will likely hinge on long-term reliability, manufacturing cost, and real-world charging infrastructure compatibility.

Donut Lab frames its efforts as part of an ongoing push to bring lab-based concepts into real-world use, referencing its motor technology and current partnerships. As EV technology continues to evolve, announcements like this one reflect the race among suppliers, startups, and established automakers to secure technological advantages in energy storage—a field that remains central to the future of electric transportation.