Marko Lehtimäki

Stories

Finnish startup claims first production solid-state battery

Under Finnish financial and criminal investigation after June 2026 battery exposure; admitted to Finnish media that VTT-tested cells were 'not even the cell that's going to be shipped to customers'

A June 2026 investigation backed by more than 20 independent battery experts concluded that Donut Lab's claimed solid-state battery is a conventional lithium-ion cell. Voltage curves at 3.7–3.8V at 50% state of charge and graphite anode expansion signatures matched NMC lithium-ion chemistry — not the sodium-ion solid-state design Donut Lab announced at CES.

Updated Aug 1

Notable Quotes

At Donut Lab, our answer on solid-state batteries being ready for use in OEM production vehicles is now, today, not later.

from Finnish startup claims first production solid-state battery · Updated Aug 1

Twenty engineers beat 2,000 engineers.

from Finnish startup claims first production solid-state battery · Updated Aug 1

We waited to make the announcement until the technology was fully validated in vehicles operating on public roads.

from Finnish startup claims first production solid-state battery · Updated Aug 1

All the claims [by other companies] have made it hard for us to be believable, but the reality is that solid state has arrived.

from Finnish startup claims first production solid-state battery · Updated Aug 1

It cannot be purely bullshit, or otherwise we'll be destroying our reputation with consumers.

from Finnish startup claims first production solid-state battery · Updated Aug 1