At CES’26 this year Donut Lab caused quite the furore when they unveiled what they claimed was the world’s first production-ready solid state battery, featuring some pretty stellar specifications. Since then many experts and enthusiasts in the battery space have raised concerns that this claimed battery may not be real, or even possible at all.
On paper, the Donut Lab battery sounds amazing: full charge in less than 10 minutes, 400 Wh/kg energy density, 100,000 charge cycles, extremely safe and low cost. Basically it ticks every single box on a battery wish list. The problem on those promises is that this is all based on Donut’s own claims.
Donut Lab’s Solid-State Battery: Breakthrough or Battery Hype Cycle 2.0?
If you follow battery tech even casually, you’ve probably seen the headlines: a Finnish startup, Donut Lab, claims to have a “production-ready solid-state battery” with specs that read like a wish list from every EV (electric vehicle) engineer on the planet.
We’re talking following promises:
* 5–10 minute full charge
* ~400 Wh/kg energy density
* Up to 100,000 charge cycles
* Improved safety
* Lower cost than current lithium-ion
On paper, that’s not just incremental improvement — those are disruptive (if they are true). But here’s the thing: for technically minded readers, those numbers immediately raise eyebrows.
The Spec Sheet That Breaks Physics?
Solid-state batteries are real. Replacing liquid electrolyte with a solid one *can* enable higher energy density and better safety margins. No argument there. The industry has been chasing this for over a decade.
But combining:
* Ultra-fast charging
* Extremely high cycle life
* High energy density
* Low cost
* Immediate production readiness
…in a single chemistry? That’s where skepticism kicks in.
Hackaday’s deep dive into the Donut battery claims points out a core issue: when you try to reconcile those parameters with known electrochemistry and materials science, the puzzle pieces don’t fit together. Trade-offs are fundamental to battery design. High energy density tends to stress cycle life. Fast charging increases thermal and structural degradation. Solid electrolytes introduce interface challenges and manufacturing complexity.
Typically with battery chemistry you don’t get everything at once. At least, not with any chemistry currently understood. Even a professor from Aalto University publicly stated that parts of the claims would “break the laws of physics” if true. That’s not casual criticism — that’s a red flag.
Where’s the Data?
Another sticking point for engineers: there’s no publicly available technical documentation.
No patents detailing the breakthrough.
No peer-reviewed papers.
No independent lab validation.
No disclosed chemistry.
What exists is a launch video from CES and bold statements about production already happening in Finland.
Yet when journalists asked where the factory is located, the response was essentially: “No comment.” For a claimed production-ready technology in a €200 billion global battery market, that’s unusually opaque.
Industry Reaction: From Skepticism to Panic
The response hasn’t just been academic skepticism.
Yang Hongxin, chairman of Svolt (a major Chinese battery player), reportedly called the claims “a fraud,” stating the parameters are internally contradictory and that industrialization of all-solid-state batteries is still premature.
That’s strong language — but it reflects a broader sentiment in the industry. Many battery veterans see the announcement as part of a familiar pattern: Company announces revolutionary solid-state breakthrough → promises production in two years → timeline quietly slips → repeat.
We’ve seen this cycle before.
And yet — interestingly — Donut Lab’s announcement triggered something real: competitors accelerated their own announcements. In that sense, whether the battery exists or not, the marketing worked brilliantly. It pushed the conversation forward.
The Verge Connection Raises More Questions
Adding complexity, Donut Lab is connected to Verge Motorcycles, which has announced bikes using this battery tech. But financial reports related to Verge have painted a messy picture, and delivery timelines for the motorcycles have reportedly slipped.
For engineers evaluating credibility, financial instability and delayed hardware launches don’t inspire confidence in breakthrough battery mass production.
Meanwhile, Sodium-Ion Creeps Forward
While the spotlight is on “miracle” solid-state cells, sodium-ion batteries are quietly gaining traction. Lower energy density, yes — but cheaper materials, better cold performance, and realistic manufacturing pathways.
For Nordic climates, sodium-ion might be the more pragmatic near-term solution. It’s not as sexy as a physics-defying supercell. But it’s real.
So… Breakthrough or Vaporware?
Here’s the balanced take:
If Donut Lab’s claims are even partially true, this would be one of the most significant battery breakthroughs in decades — potentially reshaping China’s dominance in the sector and redefining EV economics.
But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Until we see:
* Independent validation
* Clear chemistry disclosure
* Real production lines
* Shipped products in customer hands
…it remains a fascinating case study in how hype, capital markets, and deep-tech ambition intersect.
For engineers and technically minded observers, the right stance isn’t cynicism — it’s disciplined skepticism.
Because if history has taught us anything about batteries, it’s this: The laws of electrochemistry don’t bend for press releases.
Sources:
Donut Labin omistaja jakoi optioita pilkkahinnalla – Holdingyhtiön osakkeen arvoksi määriteltiin vain 69 senttiä
https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/a/b2e4e604-195c-4a59-9e19-ba8ca81efabd
Investigating The Science Claims Behind The Donut Solid State Battery
https://hackaday.com/2026/02/08/investigating-the-science-claims-behind-the-donut-solid-state-battery/
Kommentti / Oli Donut Labin akusta mitä mieltä tahansa, Kiinassa on painettu paniikkinappulaa
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/a/8d56c5cd-79c1-47c1-b515-c4c77fe5a98d
Donut Labiin kytkeytyvän Vergen raportti on karua luettavaa – Toimitusjohtajalla on selitys kaikkeen
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/a/f942fca5-d7e1-4629-b7aa-2c0ed130c146
Vergen moottoripyörien toimitusaika venähti – Näin kommentoi toimitusjohtaja
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/a/5460f06d-27b5-4c8e-bb7f-8fc03f5294f5
Unohda Donut Lab – Nyt tulevat Suomeen sopivat suola-akut
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/a/16bffade-4c55-41af-a844-46cef04c16d5
Suomalainen startup väittää keksineensä superakun – professori tyrmistyi lupauksista: ”Rikkoisi fysiikan periaatteita”
https://yle.fi/a/74-20204751
Donut Labin ihmeakun lanseeraukseen liittyvän Verge Motorcyclesin tilintarkastus paljasti kaaoksen
https://yle.fi/a/74-20205916
Donut Labin toinen perustaja vakuuttaa CES-haastattelussa
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/18415-donut-labin-toinen-perustaja-vakuuttaa-ces-haastattelussa
Professori: Suomalaisen ihmeakun teknologia voisi horjuttaa Kiinan ylivoimaa, jos väitteet siitä pitävät paikkansa
https://yle.fi/a/74-20206158
Missä se Donut Labin akkutehdas oikein piileskelee? – ”Emme kommentoi”
https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/missa-se-donut-labin-akkutehdas-oikein-piileskelee-emme-kommentoi/
Donut Labin akkusensaatio – totta vai tarua?
https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/donut-labin-akkusensaatio-totta-vai-tarua/
GWM’s Svolt CEO calls Donut Lab’s ‘production-ready’ solid-state battery a fraud
https://carnewschina.com/2026/01/20/gwm-spin-off-svolt-ceo-claimed-donut-labs-production-ready-all-solid-state-battery-is-a-fraud-report-says/
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