Doubts over "miracle battery": Will solid-state batteries be ready for mass production in 2026?

The battery market is highly competitive. New technologies and materials are entering the market, and price changes or political influences involving precious raw materials for battery production are affecting most manufacturers. For example, rising lithium prices recently caused CATL to reconsider plans for its own sodium-ion batteries in order to become less dependent on lithium.

While major battery producers such as Toyota, Samsung and various Chinese automakers are still researching and developing their solid-state battery, the Finnish startup Donut Lab has announced that it is ready for mass production. According to the product description on the company’s website, Donut Lab claims it has solved basically all major issues and problems that the industry is dealing with.

Specifically, Donut Lab promises the following:

• energy density of 400 Wh/kg

• service life of more than 100,000 charging cycles
• cheaper than lithium-ion batteries

• charging to 80% in just 5 minutes
• no fire risk thanks to nonflammable materials
• made of environmentally friendly materials that are available worldwide

Industry experts have already noted how unrealistic that sounds. Various outlets are citing Yang Hongxin, the CEO of Chinese battery maker Svolt Energy. According to him, a battery like that does not exist anywhere in the world and can’t be ready for mass production.

Furthermore, there are no independent test certificates. Either way, since the first Donut Battery are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2026, it shouldn’t take too long until these claims are put to the test.

In the meantime, check out the video embedded below, in which the manufacturer introduces its new solid-state battery.