A solid-state battery (SSB), described as a “dream technology” that could change the landscape of the electric vehicle industry, is finally coming onto the road.

On Jan. 5 local time, electric vehicle outlet CleanTechnica reported that Finland-based battery startup Donut Labs announced it had begun producing a solid-state battery at a mass-production level for the first time in the world. Donut Labs said its solid-state battery has an energy density of 400 Wh/kg, far higher than the top-end lithium-ion batteries currently on sale at about 250 to 300 Wh/kg and about double that of Tesla batteries.

It operates stably even in extreme environments. Donut Labs' solid-state battery operates across a wide temperature range from minus 30 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius, and the company claims a lifespan of more than 100,000 charge cycles. It stressed that without a liquid electrolyte there is no risk of fire or explosion, and explained that safety has improved significantly compared with existing lithium-ion batteries.

The battery was applied to electric motorcycle maker Verge Motorcycles' flagship models, the TS Pro and TS Ultra. The models support up to a 600 km driving range and 200 kW ultra-fast charging, and can charge 80 percent of battery capacity in under 10 minutes.

The motorcycles are equipped with an in-wheel motor that Donut Labs calls “donut motors.” The structure integrates the motor directly inside the wheel, and delivers more than 700 lb-ft, or about 1,200 N·m, of torque along with a distinctive look reminiscent of the film “Tron.” The combination of solid-state batteries and in-wheel motor technology is being assessed as creating a high-performance electric motorcycle.

The company says the battery is made with safe materials with stable supply and is competitive on cost. While the price of individual battery cells was not disclosed, the TS Pro and TS Ultra equipped with 20.2 kWh and 33.3 kWh batteries, respectively, were set at about 30,000 euros each.

Donut Labs said the technology can simultaneously solve the limits of existing batteries, including range, charging speed, performance degradation, temperature stability, cost and supply chains. It also plans to provide a vertically integrated platform that integrates battery and electric motor systems, to help original equipment manufacturers apply the technology easily to a range of applications.

The industry is also paying attention to the possibility that Donut Labs' battery may be sodium-based solid-state. The company did not disclose the detailed chemical composition, but if its claims are confirmed as true, it is expected to have a major impact across a wide range of industries including electric vehicles, ships and stationary energy storage devices.

Marco Lehtimaki, Donut Labs' co-founder and chief executive officer, said, “Now is the turning point when internal combustion engines begin to lose competitiveness,” adding, “It will be an opportunity for electrification to accelerate.”