Solid-state battery pioneer QuantumScape (QS) and PowerCo, the battery division of the Volkswagen Group, demonstrated QS solid-state lithium-metal batteries powering a Ducati electric motorcycle at the recent IAA Mobility show in Munich. This was the first time QS has showcased its solid-state cells in a real-world vehicle.
The battery system used in the e-motorcycle was designed by specialists at Audi specifically for QS solid-state battery cells. These QSE-5 anode-free solid-state battery cells, which were produced using the QuantumScape’s new Cobra production process, boast energy density of 844 Wh/L and 10C continuous discharge.
“Today we’ve crossed the threshold from possibility to reality,” said Dr. Siva Sivaram, CEO and President of QS. “We believe that our partnership with PowerCo, together with Ducati as our demonstration launch partner, positions us to scale our transformative technology to gigawatt-hour production.”
“Solid-state batteries will redefine what’s possible for high-performance, premium vehicles, and today’s demonstration is just the beginning,” said Frank Blome, CEO of PowerCo. “We’re combining QuantumScape’s world-class battery scientists with PowerCo’s manufacturing expertise to bring solid-state battery technology to the world as soon as possible.”
In June 2025, QS integrated its proprietary Cobra separator manufacturing process into baseline production. QS and PowerCo recently expanded their non-exclusive collaboration and licensing arrangement that includes up to $131 million in new milestone-based payments over the next two years, an essential step in scaling manufacturing and enabling higher-volume prototype cell deliveries to PowerCo.
Source: QuantumScape
