Solid state batteries are now a reality – better in ALL ways than Lithium-Ion

[danie10@squeet.me]

Donut Lab introduced what it claims is the world’s first commercially available all-solid-state battery at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, marking a pivotal moment in the decade-long race to bring the promising technology from laboratory prototypes to real-world vehicles. The phone-sized battery cells are already powering the Verge TS Pro electric motorcycle, which enters production this quarter.

• Higher density (400 Wh/kg)
• Faster charging (potentially in 5 to 10 minutes)
• Full charge (no longer needing to limit to 80%)
• Safer (No flammable liquid electrolytes, No thermal runaway chains, No metallic dendrites that can cause internal shorts)
• Good for 100,000 cycles (high-end Lithium-Ion is about 5,000 cycles).

But there is more, at −30 °C and even over 100 °C , they can retain over 99% of their capacity. The usual issue has also been cost, but it is claimed now that without using rare earth minerals, material costs are actually lower than Lithium-Ion too.

It still does not stop there though, as these batteries are not created in the cell shapes that Lithium-Ion were, and which required products to conform to the shape of the battery. These solid state batteries behave like clay, so custom sizes, voltages, and geometries are now possible.

This also means that these are not only for vehicles but can potentially work in phones and micro-electronics.

A solid-state battery uses a solid material (like a ceramic or special polymer) to conduct electricity between its positive and negative sides, instead of the liquid or gel electrolyte found in regular lithium-ion electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

As regards a reality check, Verge’s TS Pro motorcycle is being launched now with one of these Donut solid state batteries. Range has increased from the older battery types having 350 km, to now up 600 km, with a charging time of 10 minutes. We will have to see the road tests later in 2026, but if so, then solid state batteries will truly be a game changer. Given the range and the charge cycles, that means the battery will be good for about 60 million kms. That is way more than any combustion engine is ever going to last.

See donutlab.com/battery and newatlas.com/motorcycles/verge…
#Blog, #batteries, #environment, #EV, #technology