A company called Donut Lab has revealed a shiny new battery built specifically for use in electric automobiles that can be recharged up to full capacity in just five minutes.
Yes, folks, it’s our future friend, the solid-state battery. Only it’s now available in the good old present. Revealed at the 2026 CES show in Vegas, DL said its new unit delivers 400Wh/kg of energy density—not quite the heady numbers we’ve long been promised, but capacious nonetheless.
Speaking of which, it also offers “minimal capacity fade” over its lifetime, which has been tested to 100,000 cycles, and in temperatures ranging from -30 to over 100 degrees C (retaining 99% capacity “with no signs of ignition or degradation”).
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
The upcoming Volvo EX60 could get more than 800km of EV range
Rejoice! The VW Polo electric supermini will have buttons
No details on its construction, with Donut Lab only saying it’s made entirely from “abundant, affordable and geopolitically safe materials.” Its very first outing—an actual solid-state unit, in the real world, in 2026!—will be in Verge Motorcycles’ TS Pro and Ultra…motorcycles.
Donut Lab boss Marko Lehtimaki said: “While the advantages are obvious, the future of solid-state batteries has been a moving target constantly delayed when companies working in electrification are asked about when they will become a reality.
“Our answer on solid-state batteries being ready for use in OEM production vehicles is now, today, not later. Donut Lab has engineered a new high-performance solid-state Donut Battery that can be scaled to major production volumes and seen now in real-world use in the Verge Motorcycles bikes out on the road in Q1.”
Donut Lab, don’t forget, made that mad in-wheel motor too for Verge, and like that unfortunately non-sugary offering, this new battery can apparently be custom designed to fit any size or shape. You can even use it, said Donut Lab, as the car’s structure, or the body of a drone.
Still wondering what a ‘solid-state’ is? Click here for our handy explainer.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
