Volkswagen Backed QuantumScape Achieves Battery Goal Ahead Of Schedule

QuantumScape, which is doing some pioneering work in the space of solid-state batteries, has revealed that it has achieved its final goal for 2021 ahead of schedule. The goal was to achieve 800 charging cycles which has been estimated to be around 3,86,00 km with the average for the car to have 483 km per charge. Its 10 layer battery cell prototype retained more than 80 percent of the initial capacity after 800 cycles with 100 percent depth of discharge at 1C-1C current at a temperature of 25 degrees at 3.4 atmospheres of pressure. 

"QuantumScape Corporation today released 10-layer battery cell testing data showing 800 cycles at better than one-hour charge rates at 25 degrees C, achieving the goal it had laid out for 2021. With this achievement, QuantumScape has now met all the milestones it laid out at the beginning of the year. The results confirm that the company achieved the goal, which was to demonstrate a 10-layer cell capable of at least 800 cycles with energy retention greater than 80%; a 1C-1C charge and discharge rate; at 25 degrees C, 3.4 atmospheres of pressure, and 100% depth of discharge," said the company. 

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Volkswagen has bet its success in EVs on the success of QuantumScape 

"We are delighted to share this data on 10-layer cell performance. This demonstrates that we continue to successfully execute the objectives we established to scale up our technology and manufacturing efforts. These are groundbreaking results, as we believe no other player has demonstrated equivalent performance with solid-state or lithium-metal battery technology," said QuantumScape's Jagdeep Singh, the co-founder, and CEO of the company. 

Before this QuantumScape revealed that the prototype could retain 80 percent retention in a single layer with 1000 plus cycles. Now, this 800 cycle feat comes for a 10 layer cell that has 2Ah capacity. QuantumScape has revealed that now it is fully focused on 2022 and 2023 as it comes close to delivering the customer prototypes. It is also building its QS-0 pre-pilot production line which was announced last year. 

QuantumScape has been backed by Volkswagen and even Bill Gates and both believe it will help create batteries that are superior to the ones that Tesla leverages.