World’s First Solid-State Battery Motorcycle Enters Production

Key Takeaways

Verge Motorcycles has launched the world’s first motorcycle featuring an all-solid-state battery, the TS Pro.
The new battery claims impressive specifications, including a full charge in five minutes and a range of up to 370 miles.
Despite the excitement, industry experts express skepticism due to a lack of independent data on the battery’s chemistry and performance.

Innovative Motorcycle Launch

Verge Motorcycles, an Estonian company, has unveiled the TS Pro, claiming it to be the first motorcycle powered by an all-solid-state battery developed in collaboration with Finnish startup Donut Lab. This motorcycle is poised to be a significant advancement in electric vehicle (EV) technology if the claims about its performance and capabilities are validated.

Solid-state batteries have long been regarded as a revolutionary technology, promising enhancements in safety, longevity, and charging efficiency compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. Despite their potential, no major automaker has successfully commercialized solid-state batteries due to the complexities of large-scale production without defects. Many industry leaders, including Toyota, CATL, and Samsung, have been pursuing this technology but have yet to make it widely available.

Previously, there have been prototypes utilizing solid-state technology, such as a Ducati with QuantumScape cells, but none have been mass-produced for consumers. Donut Lab recently made headlines at CES by announcing it had developed the first production-ready all-solid-state battery, boasting remarkable specs: 400 Wh/kg energy density, 100,000 charging cycles, no reliance on rare-earth materials, and a full charge in just five minutes.

However, experts in the industry have greeted these claims with skepticism due to the absence of independent verification for the battery’s performance data. Although Donut Lab has since released some independent results, the specific chemical composition and cycle life of the battery remain unclear.

The TS Pro will be available in two versions: the Standard Battery, with a 20.2 kWh capacity (17 kWh usable) and an estimated range of 217 miles, and the Large Battery, with a capacity of 33.3 kWh (30 kWh usable) offering up to 370 miles of range. Prices in the U.S. start at $29,990, with an additional $5,000 for the large battery option, and a $100 reservation fee.

Charging speed is a key differentiator for the new model. While the first-generation TS Pro required 35 minutes to charge from 20% to 80%, the new version can achieve a charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 12 minutes, along with a peak charging rate of 200 kW—an impressive figure for a motorcycle.

Performance metrics for the TS Pro also appear promising on paper, featuring 737 pound-feet of torque and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, driven by a hubless rear-wheel motor design.

Verge Motorcycles plans to begin deliveries to early reservation holders in the first quarter, while newer orders may face a wait until the end of the year. Ongoing evaluations and independent testing of the solid-state battery are anticipated to clarify its true capabilities and performance.

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