New EV battery offers 800 Wh/L energy density, charges upto 80% in 15 mins
The battery goes from 10 to 80 percent charge in under 15 minutes and has an energy density of over 800 Wh/L.
California-based QuantumScape, a startup making solid-state batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), has started low-volume production of its B-sample cells. According to the company’s Q3 report, it will soon ship them to EV makers for implementation testing.
The recent surge in EV adoption is an encouraging trend in electrified transportation. If EV adoption continues to increase, tailpipe emissions from cars and even trucks can be brought to zero in the coming years, giving a huge boost to net-zero targets.
However, apart from government policy and subsidies, the performance of EVs must also encourage users to adopt them. Although EV manufacturers equip their newer models with high-tech and smart features, the deciding factor in EV purchase remains the battery for potential customers.
Everything revolves around the battery pack, from deciding the range to charging time, the time required to travel to a destination, and the safety and sustainability concerns of an EV. California-based QuantumScape is on a mission to deliver the best battery solution to herald a low-carbon future in EVs and energy storage.
Founded in 2010, QuantumScape has spent most of the last decade perfecting solid-state batteries. Its major advancement came about four years ago when it developed a ceramic separator to replace the polymer separator conventionally used in batteries.
According to its website, the ceramic separator allows the replacement of carbon or silicon anode with lithium metal, which is much more energy-dense and stores more charge in the same volume. This also allowed QuantumScape to make an anode-less battery since lithium from the battery makes the anode on the first charge.
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QuantumScape Story
We’re on a mission to revolutionize energy storage and power a decarbonized future, and we’re starting with transportation. Lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of the next transportation revolution, but in the technology’s current form, they fall short of meeting the needs of drivers in key areas like battery life, charging speed and cost. QuantumScape was founded in 2010 to create a battery that doesn’t make compromises — and after a decade of hard work, we’ve built a technology that enables the fast charging, long-lasting and safer batteries required to power zero-emissions transportation.
The key to our technology is a patented solid ceramic electrolyte separator, the material that keeps the anode and cathode from touching and moves lithium ions from one side of the battery to the other during charge and discharge. Our technology creates the lithium anode in situ during the first charge, an innovation that dramatically simplifies battery design and makes it fundamentally cheaper to manufacture. The solid electrolyte allows us to use lithium-metal for the anode, which is the lightest metal on the planet and nearly 10 times more energy dense than what’s used in today’s batteries. And the ceramic separator is non-flammable and noncombustible, making our batteries safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries.
In order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, we must electrify transportation and turn internal combustion engines into a way of the past. Replacing this century-old technology won’t happen overnight, but with the help of our automotive partners, our dedicated team of world-class scientists and engineers is working around the clock to put our breakthrough, solid-state technology on the road as soon as possible. The future is solid.
DR. SIVA SIVARAM
President & CEO
Dr. Sivaram is QuantumScape’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to this, he served in various roles at data storage solutions provider, Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC), where he was responsible for the development of corporate strategy and growth technologies, including in his last role as President, Technology and Strategy from August 2019 to August 2023, and, prior to that, as Executive Vice President, Silicon Technology and Manufacturing since November 2017. Prior to joining Western Digital in 2016, Dr. Sivaram held the title of Executive Vice President, Memory Technology, at SanDisk.
In 2008, he founded Twin Creek Technologies, an American technology manufacturer specializing in solar model equipment, where he served as CEO for five years. Earlier in his career, Dr. Sivaram held leadership positions at SanDisk, Matrix Semiconductor and Intel. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Materials Science from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a Distinguished Alumnus of the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, where he received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
DR. TIM HOLME
Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Holme is QuantumScape’s Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Holme has served as QuantumScape’s Chief Technology Officer since January 2011. Prior to joining QuantumScape, he was a Research Associate at Stanford University from June 2008 to January 2011. Dr. Holme holds a B.S. in Physics, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.
DR. MOHIT SINGH
Chief Development Officer
Dr. Singh is QuantumScape’s Chief Development Officer. Dr. Singh has served as QuantumScape’s Chief Development Officer since June 2015. Prior to this, Dr. Singh served as QuantumScape’s Vice President, Research and Development and Engineering from April 2014 to June 2015. From 2004 to 2007, Dr. Singh conducted post doctorate research in Chemical Engineering at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Singh holds a B. Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Tulane University.
KEVIN HETTRICH
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Hettrich is QuantumScape’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hettrich has served as QuantumScape’s Chief Financial Officer and head of Business Operations since September 2018. Prior to this, Mr. Hettrich served as QuantumScape’s Vice President of Business Operations from March 2016 to March 2018, as Senior Director of Finance and Product Management from March 2014 to March 2016, as a Director of Product Management from March 2013 to March 2014, and as a Manager of Product Management from January 2012 to March 2013. Prior to joining QuantumScape, Mr. Hettrich served as a Private Equity Associate of Bain Capital, an investment firm, from September 2007 to July 2009.
Mr. Hettrich also served as a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm, from September 2004 to July 2007. Mr. Hettrich holds a B.A. in Economics from Pomona College, a M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a M.S. in Environment and Resources from Stanford University.
MIKE MCCARTHY
Chief Legal Officer & Head of Corp. Dev.
Mr. McCarthy has served as QuantumScape’s Chief Legal Officer and Head of Corporate Development since March 2013. Mr. McCarthy also currently serves on the board of QSV Operations LLC. Prior to joining QuantumScape, he was the Chief Administrative Officer at Infinera Corporation from April 2003 to March 2013. From September 1997 to April 2003, Mr. McCarthy served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Ciena Corporation, a network strategy and technology company. Mr. McCarthy currently serves as a member of the boards of several privately-held companies. Mr. McCarthy holds a B.A. in Mathematical Economics from Colgate University and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.