Chinese car manufacturers such as MG and Nio have recently experimented with semi-solid-state batteries, as has Mercedes-Benz, but the Verge TS Pro is claimed to be the first electric vehicle to use a fully solid-state battery.
Solid-state batteries differ from conventional EV batteries – which are predominantly lithium-ion – by replacing liquid electrolytes with a solid material such as ceramic, glass, or solid polymer.
They are also complex and expensive to produce, and questions remain around long-term durability and real-world effectiveness.
According to Donut Lab, its industry-first “Donut Battery” delivers an energy density of 400Wh/kg and is designed to withstand up to 100,000 charge cycles.