Donut Lab is a startup that makes an in-wheel electric motor, and now, a solid-state battery.
This new battery tech is claimed to be cheaper, safer, and more durable than regular lithium-ion batteries.
Donut Lab also claims charging times in as little as 5 minutes.
Solid-state batteries have generally been considered the “next big thing” in the world of electric vehicles for a few years now, but major automotive applications are still one to two years away at the earliest.
A small startup, Donut Lab, intends to benefit from this situation with its own solid-state battery technology, which it says is ready for gigawatt-hour level production.
Displayed at the 2026 CES in Las Vegas, this new battery is claimed to be significantly better in every way than current lithium-ion batteries.
Indeed, Donut Lab says this solid-state battery is cheaper and lighter than conventional types, as well as significantly more power-dense. While lithium-ion batteries can achieve a power density of about 250 to 300 Wh/kg, the startup claims its solid-state battery is capable of storing 400 watt-hours per kilogram.
This makes it possible to use a smaller battery without reducing the vehicle’s range, a perfect combination for small models such as motorcycles and sports cars.
In fact, Donut Lab already collaborates with Verge motorcycles, which will be the first to use its new battery in their TS Pro lineup.
These are not the only advantages of solid-state batteries, however, as this dry chemistry is also recognized as being safer than liquid-based units, even if the battery is physically damaged.
Verge motorcycle | Photo: Donut LabIn addition, they are significantly less impacted by hot and cold temperatures than current types, Donut Lab claiming that its battery retained over 99% of its capacity at temperatures as low as -30°C and as high as 100°C.
That’s not all, as solid-state batteries are also expected to be much more durable than all other battery types to date. The startup claims its battery can sustain as many as 100,000 cycles even when charged fully, while current setups are considered good for 5,000 cycles when limiting charge to only 80%.
The biggest advantage for drivers by far, however, is the rapid charging capabilities of this technology. Indeed, Donut Lab says it can take as little as five minutes to fully charge one of its batteries. Of course, we don’t know what size of battery they are talking about, and a car’s battery is likely to take more time to charge.
The company also says that its battery doesn’t use rare minerals, making it possible to manufacture everywhere while also circumventing global trade issues linked to the supply chain.
Donut Lab does not specify what materials are used in its batteries, only that they are “100% green, made from materials that are found everywhere”.
Going back to Verge Motorcycles for a moment, their upcoming TS Pro with a solid-state battery is said to have a range of either 350 km or 595 km, depending on the battery size, and a charging time of less than 10 minutes. This charging rate has apparently been deliberately slowed down to allow riders the time to take a coffee while their motorcycle is charging.
As a comparison, the same model with last year’s lithium-ion battery was capable of only the shorter of the two range estimates (350 km), and it took close to 35 minutes to charge.
If all of Donut Lab’s claims stand up to real-world use, its battery could easily make all current lithium-ion chemistries obsolete once it reaches the market in the first quarter of the year.
Source: Inside EVs
