The Dawn of Solid-State Batteries: Fact or Fiction?

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a breeding ground for grandiose declarations about cutting-edge technologies and gadgets promising to reshape the future. These announcements often target a release window approximately two years down the line, a timeline calculated to maximize interest and financial backing while still allowing time for any unmet promises to fade from public memory.

The Rise and Stall of Solid-State Claims

Back at CES 2018, Henrik Fisker made headlines by asserting that his team had unlocked the secrets of solid-state batteries, forecasting mass production by 2020. However, the associated car, dubbed the EMotion, failed to materialize, and by 2021, the company had notably pivoted away from these promises.

This year at CES 2026, a fresh set of ambitious claims comes from Marko Lehtimaki, the co-founder and CEO of Donut Lab, a young EV tech company. Unlike past assertions promising such advances within a two-year horizon, Lehtimaki insists that their solid-state batteries are already in production, though skepticism remains high.

The Allure and Challenge of Solid-State Technology

For those unfamiliar with the ongoing excitement surrounding solid-state batteries, these cells promise to be cheaper, more lightweight, and quicker to charge, while also running cooler and containing greater energy densities than traditional counterparts. The core concept remains familiar: an assembly featuring an anode, a cathode, and a medium for ion transfer, traditionally a liquid in lithium-ion batteries, proposed as solid in this new technology.

Transitioning to a solid medium is no simple tweak; it heralds wide-reaching impacts, particularly in terms of durability. Without moving parts to degrade, these batteries theoretically last much longer, charge faster, and provide denser energy storage.

Reports from Donut Lab claim their battery features an energy density of 400 Wh/kg—nearly a third greater than contemporary lithium-ion batteries, offering about 30% more range for the same weight.

Economic and Performance Gains

Lehtimaki discusses the unexpected economic advantage, stating that the materials cost has notably decreased. The Verge TS Pro is expected to be the first recipient of this advanced technology, benefitting from not just the enhanced energy performance but also a reduction in manufacturing costs.

Donut claims these batteries can achieve a full charge within five minutes, resembling the refueling time of gasoline vehicles. For now, a real-world charging time of ten minutes is anticipated for the initial applications, demonstrating a measured approach to life cycle claims of up to 100,000 charge cycles.

Beyond Battery Longevity: The Bigger Picture

Such cycle life is a stark improvement over average lithium-ion cells that typically manage about 1,500. With a longevity poised to outlast the vehicles they power, these batteries could find secondary use in home storage solutions, maintaining their intrinsic value long post-vehicular life.

Additionally, these solid-state batteries are touted for exceptional thermal stability, performing efficiently even at frigid temperatures. This would significantly lessen the cooling requirements, cutting down on the weight and complexity of associated systems.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite ambitious claims, unanswered questions remain regarding the materials and chemical makeup of these batteries—important details Lehtimaki has yet to fully disclose. Further, the notorious dendrite issue, which has been a barrier for many similar ventures, remains unaddressed.

Lehtimaki attributes Donut Lab's breakthroughs to their nimble, highly-focused team, emphasizing that smaller, agile groups can outpace larger teams traditionally tasked with innovation.

Awaiting Validation

While online speculation suggests ties to other technological firms, Lehtimaki stands by the originality of Donut Lab’s technology, noting that patent filings are imminent. Despite echoes of past unfulfilled promises in the industry, his assertion that real-world proof is just weeks away leaves room for cautious optimism, with the outcome soon to confirm or dissipate these renewed hopes.