In a battery market long dominated by Chinese and Korean giants, Finnish startup Donut Lab has made a bold claim in 2026: it has developed a fully solid state battery for electric vehicles capable of ultra fast charging.
Tested in collaboration with the Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT, the company says its technology could redefine the future of sustainable mobility. But how realistic are these claims, and what do the numbers actually reveal?
Donut Lab’s battery reportedly reached an extraordinary 11C charging rate. That means the cell can charge from 0 percent to 80 percent in just 4.5 minutes when using dual heat sinks.
A full 100 percent charge takes just over 7 minutes, placing Donut Lab among the fastest charging battery developers in the world.
The company also claims an energy density of 400 Wh per kilogram, alongside a lifespan of up to 100,000 charge cycles. If validated at scale, this would dramatically extend vehicle longevity compared to conventional lithium ion batteries.
Unlike many other solid state batteries that expand by 15 to 20 percent and require mechanical pressure systems, Donut Lab states its battery maintains structural stability without complex compression mechanisms or oversized cooling systems.
During 11C charging tests, the battery temperature reached 63 degrees Celsius with dual heat sinks. When using a single heat sink, temperatures spiked to 90 degrees Celsius, forcing test interruptions for cooling.
Despite CEO Marko Lehtimäki stating that the battery does not require active cooling, real world testing shows that thermal management remains critical for safety and sustained ultra fast charging.
In a bold marketing move, the company even launched a website called iDonutBelieve to respond directly to critics and publish documented test results.
The first production vehicle to use this technology will be the Verge TS Pro electric motorcycle. Developed by the Finnish brand Verge Motorcycles, the model is expected to reach markets in the first quarter of 2026.
The Verge TS Pro will be available with battery options of 20.2 kWh and 33.3 kWh. Combined with ultra fast charging, this could allow riders to recharge in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
By addressing two of the biggest challenges facing electric motorcycles charging speed and energy density Donut Lab and Verge aim to reshape the performance and practicality of high performance electric bikes.
Started my career in Automotive Journalism in 2015. Even though I'm a pharmacist, hanging around cars all the time has created a passion for the automotive industry since day 1.