In January, there was an announcement from Finnish company Donut Lab: It claims to have created the world’s first. solid state battery ready for production.
Donut Battery, marketed as the power source behind the Verge TS Pro motorcycle, was allegedly a “pioneer” in bringing this new battery technology to a production-ready electric vehicle. During CES 2026, Donut Lab’s food-size powerhouse was the last CNET’s best transportation section, where we noted that the cell promises “significant improvements in energy density, charging speed and safety.”
But now it seems to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The battery is suspected to use existing lithium-ion technology, not sodium-ion solid-state chemistry, according to new reports following an investigation from battery researcher Ryan Inis Hughes, known for his YouTube channel Zeroth.
Hughes, along with a team of more than 20 experts, presented electrochemical evidence, including voltage curves and cell expansion data, that conclusively identified the battery as lithium-ion. In his YouTube video, Hughes interviews a battery industry executive who worked with companies developing Donut Lab’s promising technology. Hughes also consulted with battery experts about the company’s claims, such as the Donut Battery’s claimed 400 watt-per-kilogram capacity — a “holy” milestone for batteries — and its 100,000 cycle life.
A representative for Donut Lab did not immediately return a request for comment.
Doubt and inquiry
A new study from Hughes confirms doubts expressed by media outlets covering the EV and battery industries, including Electrek, which posted an article in mid-April about a nurse who came forward and claimed that Donut Lab’s product was a fraud. Electrek also interviewed Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehtimäki in January, noting in an article that the company’s leader will be proven either a world changer or a fool in a few months.
Fred Lambert, Electrek’s editor-in-chief, now notes that the site “called this prematurely,” adding that the investigation reveals clear lies about battery manufacturing and shipping. According to Lambert, Donut Lab also misled investors by inflating its value. “This company has raised approximately $25 million from over 1,300 investors, most of whom are small investors, based on claims that appear to be false,” he wrote.
A closer look at Donut Lab draws comparisons with Theranos storywhen founder Elizabeth Holmes falsified information about her blood test startup. He was eventually sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Stores like Electrek have come out in support of Hughes’ investigation. The Verge and AutoEvolution also posted about the investigation’s findings.
Solid state versus lithium-ion
A solid-state battery, as promised by Donut Lab, will solve many of the problems associated with lithium-ion batteries. First, it would not be subject to overheating and fire hazards because it would not use flammable materials. With compact technology, the hope was that the solid-state battery platform could usher in faster charging speeds, longer battery life and increased range for electric vehicles.
Companies including Toyota are actively working on technology, but no major manufacturer says anything is ready for production the way Donut Lab does.
