After making a big splash in 2020 with a prototype solid-state electric car battery, news around QuantumScape has been scarce and its stock price has plummeted. However, the start-up claims to be able to keep its promises…
In 2020, the start-up QuantumScape presented a first prototype of a battery revolutionary for electric cars, with the hope of commercialization this year. Investors, including Volkswagen, flocked to the firm’s stock, driving its stock market value to $54 billion. Almost two years later, stocks have lost 92% of their value, and with departure last month from Celina Mikolajczak, the director of production, the company seems to be at its worst.
The promise of QuantumScape has what the industry dreams of automotive. It’s about a solid state battery lithium metal. At equal weight, it offers 80% more autonomy compared to a conventional battery. In addition, it can be charged to 80% of its capacity in just 15 minutes and offers a duration life of several hundred thousand kilometres.
A piece of ceramic to block the dendrites
The key to this battery is a small ceramic separator flexible that prevents the formation of dendritesthe main obstacle in the development of solid state batteries. The company must create a full-size prototype capable of passing 800 charge/discharge cycles before it can be tested in vehicles. In 2020, the firm had shown a first very reduced prototype which had passed this test. Since then, QuantumScape has managed to create several larger prototypes, but which have not yet reached final size.
The next step, which is expected to arrive this year, is an early, near life-size version that will be sent to automakers for testing. A second version will have to be manufactured on a production line, then a third prototype, this time real size, will be tested in cars. The final stage is not expected to arrive until 2024 or 2025. The company says it has enough funds to finance this final stage, but will need moresilver to create a factory for the final version. Until then, QuantumScape could well have some competition…
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