A Finnish startup called Donut Labs unveiled a motorcycle with a supposedly groundbreaking solid-state battery at CES in Las Vegas. The battery is claimed to store 400 watt-hours per kilogram, withstand temperatures from minus 40 to plus 100 degrees, and enable up to 600 kilometers of range with a charging time under ten minutes. Despite skepticism from past disappointments, the company plans to publish independent test results.
The Finnish startup Donut Labs, founded by Marko Lehtimäki, is presenting technology with the Verge motorcycle brand that is touted as a revolution in battery tech. At the CES trade show in early January in Las Vegas, the vehicle was displayed, featuring an electric motor integrated directly into the rim of a hubless wheel—a shape reminiscent of a donut that keeps the center of gravity low.
The solid-state battery promises exceptional properties: 400 watt-hours of energy per kilogram, resilience to extreme temperatures from minus 40 to plus 100 degrees Celsius, a range of up to 600 kilometers per charge, and recharging in under ten minutes. It is also said to endure 100,000 charge cycles, with the motorcycle priced at 30,000 euros. Lehtimäki addresses doubts directly: “Schon klar, dass man einer kleinen Gruppe Außenseiter erst mal nicht glaube,” he says in a video, promising proof of the technology that major corporations have failed to achieve despite billions in investments.
Background: Solid-state batteries with solid electrolytes are considered safer and potentially more powerful than conventional lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. Examples like the bankruptcy of Swedish manufacturer Northvolt or the failure of European production plans highlight the challenges. Volkswagen mentioned a battery with 1,000 cycles, equivalent to 500,000 kilometers, and Mercedes-Benz tested a solid-state prototype over 1,200 kilometers without stopping from Stuttgart to Malmö. However, timelines for mass production remain uncertain.
Donut Labs claims to have already started series production. An independent assessment by the Finnish VTT Technical Research Centre is to verify the claims; results will be published step by step starting Monday. The technology could advance not only motorcycles but the entire electric mobility sector, with benefits for the climate and recycling, as batteries last longer and raw materials can be reused. Experts remain skeptical but intrigued.
