VW to Produce QuantumScape Solid State Batteries under License
The Volkswagen Group has agreed to license solid-state battery technology from QuantumScape, an American battery startup in which the German automaker is a key investor.
Solid-state batteries have the potential to significantly increase the range of electric vehicles, shorten charging times, reduce costs, and increase safety. However, there are challenges in making this technology suitable for the demanding conditions of automotive applications and mass production.
In a deal announced Monday, VW Group's PowerCo battery company will produce solid-state batteries using QuantumScape technology under a non-exclusive license, replacing a previously planned joint venture between the two companies.
The agreement will allow PowerCo to initially produce up to 40 gwh of batteries per year, with the option to increase this to 80 gwh. QuantumScape has stated that VW Group will be its first customer.
No timeframe was mentioned, but VW Group said it would begin production pending “satisfactory technical progress.”
VW Group had previously hinted that solid-state batteries would be ready for production in the second half of the decade.Performance targets suggested by the automaker also include a 30% longer range than current liquid-type lithium-ion batteries and the ability to charge to 80% capacity in just 12 minutes.
According to the VW Group, the key to QuantumScape's solid-state battery is a proprietary solid-state ceramic separator that allows the use of a pure lithium metal anode. Recent tests on prototype cells demonstrated over 1,000 charge cycles without degradation. According to the automaker, this number of charge cycles equates to more than 310,000 total miles for a typical EV, far exceeding the average life of a vehicle, regardless of the type of powertrain.
