Volkswagen licences solid-state battery tech from QuantumScape

11 July 2024

We've been writing about solid-state batteries many times before, and every time some company makes a bold claim about yet another breakthrough. This time it's not a technological milestone - this time we get one step closer to actually having this promising technology in our cars. The wait isn't over yet, but we are getting much closer.

The electric vehicle landscape is on the brink of a seismic shift, thanks to a landmark deal between Volkswagen's battery arm, PowerCo, and solid-state battery pioneer, QuantumScape. This groundbreaking partnership paves the way for the mass production of QuantumScape's cutting-edge technology, bringing about a potential revolution in EV performance and adoption.

The two companies, already linked by a long-standing partnership and Volkswagen's investment in QuantumScape, have solidified their commitment to developing next-generation battery technology. This latest agreement grants PowerCo a non-exclusive license to manufacture QuantumScape's solid-state lithium-metal batteries, a technology promising greater energy density, faster charging times, and enhanced safety compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.

The scale of this deal is immense. PowerCo, under the agreement, has the capacity to produce up to 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of these batteries annually, with the option to double that to 80 GWh. To put that in perspective, that's enough energy to power approximately one million electric vehicles each year.

QuantumScape has already made significant strides in the development of solid-state batteries, delivering a batch of 24-layer cells for testing to automotive partners in late 2022. These cells have since exceeded performance expectations, demonstrating the potential of this technology to transform the EV market.

The agreement is a significant milestone for both companies. QuantumScape sees this as a crucial step in its global scale-up strategy, bringing its innovative technology to the mass market. For Volkswagen, this deal ensures access to a potentially revolutionary battery technology that could propel its EV fleet to the forefront of the industry.

While the deal is a major step forward, challenges remain. The mass production of solid-state batteries is complex and expensive, and for that reason, it won't start next Monday. With the combined expertise of QuantumScape and PowerCo, the companies are confident in their ability to overcome these hurdles and bring this long-promised technology to the market. It seems that eventually, one day, solid-state batteries will be the only technology in use.

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