TL;DR
Donut Lab announced an all-solid-state battery with 400 Wh/kg energy density that the company says is ready for production vehicle integration today. Verge Motorcycles will be among the first to deploy the cells in Q1 2026, and Donut Lab lists several industrial partners planning integrations across vehicle and defense applications.
What happened
At CES 2026 Donut Lab introduced what it describes as the world’s first all-solid-state battery prepared for OEM manufacturing. The company reports the battery achieves 400 Wh/kg, can reach a full charge in about five minutes without stopping at 80%, and supports safe, full discharges repeatedly. Donut Lab says the chemistry avoids flammable liquid electrolytes and metallic dendrites, yielding up to 100,000 cycles and minimal capacity loss. Verge Motorcycles is named as the first production OEM to use the cells, with Donut-equipped bikes slated to be on the road in Q1 2026; Donut also announced collaborations with WATT Electric Vehicles, Cova Power (Ahola Group), and ESOX Group for a range of platforms from modular EV skateboards to defense vehicles and trailers. The company characterizes the materials as abundant and geopolitically safe and claims lower costs than lithium-ion alternatives.
Why it matters
- Higher energy density could extend EV range or reduce vehicle weight if claims hold in production.
- Faster full charging, if realized at scale, would change charging expectations and infrastructure needs.
- Built-in safety features aimed at eliminating liquid electrolytes and dendrite risks could reduce thermal runaway incidents.
- If long cycle life and lower cost are confirmed, it could alter economics for vehicle fleets, drones, and stationary storage.
Key facts
- Reported energy density: 400 Wh/kg.
- Company claims full charging in about five minutes without the common 80% cap.
- Design life stated at up to 100,000 cycles with minimal capacity fade.
- Performance claims include retaining over 99% capacity at –30°C and above 100°C with no ignition or degradation.
- Donut Lab says the battery contains no flammable liquid electrolytes and no metallic dendrites.
- Materials described as abundant, affordable, and geopolitically safe; company asserts lower cost than lithium-ion.
- Verge Motorcycles will use the battery in 2026 models, with deliveries and on-road use planned in Q1 2026.
- Verge bikes are said to charge in under 10 minutes and achieve up to 60 km of range per minute of charging; a long-range model is claimed to reach 600 km per charge.
- Partners announced include WATT Electric Vehicles (modular skateboard), Cova Power Smart Trailer (Ahola Group joint venture), and ESOX Group (defense platforms).
What to watch next
- First customer deliveries and real-world performance reports from Verge Motorcycles in Q1 2026 (confirmed in the source).
- WATT Electric Vehicles' functional aluminum skateboard platform debut at CES 2026 (confirmed in the source).
- Regulatory certifications, independent safety testing results, and verified large-scale production capacity — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- All-solid-state battery: A battery that uses solid electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes, intended to improve safety and energy density.
- Energy density (Wh/kg): A measure of how much energy a battery stores relative to its mass; higher values generally mean longer range or lighter packs for the same capacity.
- Thermal runaway: A self-accelerating failure mode in batteries where heat generation outpaces cooling, potentially causing fires or explosions.
- Dendrites: Needle-like metal deposits that can form on battery electrodes and cause short circuits if they penetrate the separator or electrolyte.
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): A company that produces parts or equipment that are used in another company's end products, such as vehicle manufacturers integrating batteries.
Reader FAQ
Are these batteries already installed in production vehicles?
Donut Lab says Verge Motorcycles will have models on the road in Q1 2026 using the batteries (confirmed in the source).
How fast can the battery charge?
The company claims the battery can be charged to full in about five minutes without limiting the charge to 80% (confirmed in the source).
Does the chemistry rely on rare or geopolitically sensitive materials?
Donut Lab states the cells use abundant, affordable, and geopolitically safe materials and do not depend on rare or sensitive elements (confirmed in the source).
What is the expected price per kWh or pack cost?
Not confirmed in the source.
Have independent labs verified the performance and safety claims?
Not confirmed in the source.
DONUT LAB INTRODUCES THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIFICATION AT CES PRESENTING WORLD’S FIRST ALL-SOLID-STATE BATTERY READY TO POWER UP PRODUCTION VEHICLES NOW 05/01/2026 The Future of Powering Electric Vehicles Is Here…
Sources
- Donut Lab’s all-solid-state battery delivers 400 Wh/kg of energy density
- Donut Lab unveils world's first production-ready solid-state …
- Donut Lab Launches Solid-State Batteries
- The First Production All-Solid-State Battery Is Here, And It …
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