QuantumScape Reveals 10-Layer Solid-State Battery

QuantumScape has been pushing the limits of battery technology for over a decade which has led it to be backed by the Volkswagen Group and even Bill Gates. Its solid-state battery technology is said to be a major breakthrough for the democratisation of electric cars. In a letter to its shareholders which recaps Q2 of 2021, it has revealed a 10-layer solid-state battery which it has already started testing. 

"These cells, in the commercially relevant 70x85 mm form factor, are being tested at 1C and C/3 (one and three-hour charge and discharge) rates under our standard temperature (25 degrees C) and pressure (3.4 atmospheres), conditions we believe are relevant for automotive applications. While we need to produce and test many more such cells to collect data and statistics on their performance and reliability, this is an extremely important result, as it demonstrates we are able to make 10-layer cells with similar early capacity retention and cycling behaviour to what we've shown for single- and four-layer cells," says the company. '

Jagdeep Singh, the CEO of QuantumScape hails from New Delhi

It will showcase these batteries by the end of 2021 and it is currently ahead of schedule. The company plans to continue these cells through 2021 followed by test cells for EVs from its QS-0 pre-pilot production line in 2023. It has already ordered long-lead equipment for the 197,000 sq. ft facility and it has signed a long-term lease since April. Its cell design is anode free so the assembly also doesn't need any metallic lithium. It utilises a ceramic separator. 

"From its inception, our ceramic separator was designed to be compatible with scalable manufacturing processes. The separator heat treatment step - critical in the production of any ceramic - is no exception. Today, we are in the process of installing high-volume continuous-flow heat treatment equipment, an important milestone on our path to industrialization," it says in the shareholder report. 

QuantumScape is closer than ever to manufacturing solid-state batteries at scale. It remains the most credible company to be working on this breakthrough technology which could potentially give the Volkswagen Group an edge over Tesla. Commercialisation is still years away in the 2024 and 2025 regions but this is some valid proof of what it has been working on.