Donut Lab Solid-State Battery Set To Power EVs From Q1 2026

Donut Lab has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first all-solid-state battery ready for use in production vehicles, marking a major moment for electric mobility at this year’s annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2026) in Las Vegas.

Unlike solid-state batteries developed by large battery makers, particularly in China, that have largely remained confined to laboratories and prototype stages, Donut Lab says its new battery is already operating in real-world conditions.

The technology is set to go on public roads in the first quarter of 2026, powering Verge Motorcycles’ production models, including the Verge TS Pro and Verge Ultra.

The announcement positions Donut Lab as one of the first companies to move solid-state battery technology beyond long-standing promises and into commercial reality. While solid-state batteries are widely seen as the next major leap for electric vehicles, progress has been held back by issues related to cost, durability, scalability and safety.

According to Donut Lab, its all-solid-state Donut Battery delivers an energy density of 400 Wh/kg, enabling longer range and lighter vehicle structures. The company claims the battery can be fully charged in as little as five minutes, without limiting charging to 80%, while safely supporting full discharge across repeated cycles.

Longevity is a central part of the company’s claim. Donut Lab says the battery is designed to last up to 100,000 charge cycles with minimal capacity degradation, far exceeding the lifespan of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Safety is another key focus. By eliminating liquid electrolytes, the battery removes the risk of thermal runaway, battery fires and dendrite formation, addressing some of the most persistent safety concerns associated with current EV battery technology.

The battery has also been tested under extreme temperature conditions. Donut Lab states it retains more than 99% of its capacity at temperatures as low as –30°C and continues to operate safely at temperatures exceeding 100°C, without signs of ignition or degradation.

Beyond performance and safety, Donut Lab says the battery is made using abundant materials that are easily sourced globally. This allows production to be set up in virtually any region without heavy reliance on constrained or geopolitically sensitive supply chains, while also enabling lower production costs compared to lithium-ion alternatives.

The battery’s design allows for custom sizes, voltages and geometries, opening the door to structural integration within vehicles or use in non-traditional applications beyond automotive.

Verge Motorcycles will be the first manufacturer to deploy the technology in production vehicles. With the new battery, Verge’s electric motorcycles are said to charge in under 10 minutes, deliver up to 60km of range per minute of charging, and offer a long-range variant capable of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge. 

Orders are already open, with deliveries scheduled for Q1 2026.

Beyond motorcycles, Donut Lab is showcasing multiple applications of its electrification platform at CES. WATT Electric Vehicles is debuting a modular EV skateboard chassis that integrates Donut motors, batteries and software, offering OEMs a faster pathway to solid-state-powered EV production.

The latest breakthrough builds on Donut Lab’s earlier Donut Motor innovation, first revealed at CES 2025. That high-performance in-wheel motor design is now being evaluated by more than 200 OEMs globally, reinforcing the company’s focus on technologies that move quickly from concept to real-world deployment.

With solid-state batteries now operating in production vehicles, Donut Lab argues it has removed one of the biggest remaining barriers to the next phase of electric mobility. If its claims stand up to broader industry scrutiny, the shift from lithium-ion to solid-state batteries may arrive much sooner than many had expected.