Finnish electrification company Donut Lab has unveiled what it describes as a production-ready solid-state battery for electric vehicles.

This represents a development that outpaced analyst expectations.

Industry analysts say it could significantly reduce both the environmental footprint and performance limitations associated with today’s lithium-ion technology.

Charging the future

Announced at CES 2026, Donut Lab’s all-solid-state battery replaces the liquid electrolyte used in conventional lithium-ion cells with a solid material, enabling higher energy density, faster charging and improved safety.

The company says the battery delivers around 400 Wh/kg, supports full charging in roughly five minutes, and is already being deployed in production vehicles, including upcoming Verge Motorcycles models.

Beyond performance, Doughnut Lab emphasised the materials science behind the battery as a key differentiator. Unlike many current lithium-ion chemistries, which depend heavily on cobalt, nickel and other scarce or geopolitically sensitive materials, the solid-state design uses no rare earth elements and significantly reduces reliance on high-impact metals.

“Battery sustainability isn’t just about emissions at the tailpipe,” said Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehtimäki. “It’s about what goes into the battery, how long it lasts, and how much environmental damage is caused before the vehicle even reaches the road.”

Positive change

Conventional lithium-ion batteries often rely on cobalt mined in regions linked to environmental degradation, water contamination and human-rights concerns.

The same is true of rare earth materials such as Lithium, currently regarded as a significant motivator for international political manoeuvres, most notably in Ukraine, where both Russia and the US are keen to gain control.

This is given even more profile by the fact that China has vast amounts of rare earth minerals within its borders, as well as notable investments in other countries across Africa and Asia where essential deposits also exist 

By contrast, Donut Lab says its solid-state cells are built from more abundant, widely available materials, reducing both supply-chain risk and the environmental impact associated with extraction and refining.

Industry analysts say this shift could be just as important as the performance gains.

“Material intensity is one of the least discussed but most critical challenges for EV scaling,” said Jenna Gotsick, senior analyst at EV Insights. “A battery that reduces dependence on cobalt and nickel while extending lifespan can materially lower the lifecycle emissions of electric vehicles.”

Performance

Solid-state batteries also promise a much longer usable life.

Donut Lab claims its cells are designed for up to 100,000 charge cycles, far exceeding the typical 1,000–3,000 cycles of most lithium-ion batteries.

Analysts note that longer-lasting batteries reduce the need for replacement packs, cutting down on waste, manufacturing emissions and raw-material demand over time.

The solid electrolyte further improves environmental and safety outcomes by eliminating flammable organic solvents found in lithium-ion batteries.

These solvents are not only fire-prone but also energy-intensive to produce and difficult to recycle.

Solid-state designs simplify recycling and reduce the risk of toxic leakage at end of life, according to multiple lifecycle assessments.

Plugging in

However, experts caution that challenges remain.

Alex Edmondson, senior research director at IDTechEx, said Donut Lab’s announcement is “one of the strongest real-world demonstrations of solid-state potential to date,” but warned that scaling production cost-effectively will determine how quickly the technology spreads beyond niche or premium applications.

For now, Donut Lab’s announcement adds momentum to an industry-wide push toward batteries that are not only faster and safer, but cleaner from mine to recycling plant.

If the company’s claims hold at scale, solid-state batteries could mark an imminent and meaningful step toward electric vehicles that deliver on both performance and environmental promise.