EV Battery Giant Svolt Energy Dubs Donut Lab’s Solid-State Claims at CES a ‘Scam’

Chinese battery maker Svolt Energy sharply criticized the solid-state battery unveiled by Finnish startup Donut Lab at CES 2026, with its chairman calling the technology “a scam” and technically impossible. The remarks targeted Donut Lab’s claims of ultra-high energy density, extreme durability, and rapid charging, which Svolt said could not coexist in a real-world battery.

Svolt rejected Donut Lab’s solid-state battery claims

Donut Lab announced its all-solid-state battery earlier this month at CES 2026, claiming it was suitable for OEM vehicle manufacturing. The Finnish startup said the battery achieved up to 400 Wh/kg energy density, supported full charging in five minutes, and delivered a design life of up to 100,000 cycles.

Svolt Energy chairman and CEO Yang Hongxin rejected those claims during comments to local media on January 14, one day after the company’s sixth Battery Day event. Yang said the specifications were fundamentally contradictory and did not reflect any existing battery technology, according to CNEV Post.

“That battery doesn’t exist in the world,” Yang said, according to Xuanyuan Business Review. He added that the combination of 12C charging, extreme low-temperature performance, and 400 Wh/kg energy density was not technically achievable with current materials or designs.

Donut Lab also claimed its battery retained more than 99% capacity at –30°C and above 100°C, allowed repeated full discharges without degradation, and required no charging limit to 80%. The company said the battery would power all 2026 Verge motorcycles beginning in the first quarter of 2026. Yang argued otherwise. “All the parameters are contradictory… Any technician with basic knowledge would recognize it as a scam,” he said.

Svolt emphasized caution on solid-state commercialization

Yang reiterated that Svolt Energy maintained a conservative stance on full solid-state batteries, citing unresolved technical challenges and uncertain industrialization timelines. He said ongoing research and data collection were necessary before large-scale production could be realistically discussed.

Svolt instead focused on semi-solid-state battery development. The company established a 2.3 GWh production line for semi-solid batteries and developed a 100-kWh pack with a system-level energy density of 188 Wh/kg and peak 6C charging capability. It aimed to complete development of 400 Wh/kg semi-solid-state cells in 2026, followed by 450 Wh/kg pouch cells by 2028.

Other major Chinese battery manufacturers, including CATL and BYD, targeted limited vehicle integration of solid-state batteries around 2027. CATL and BYD ranked first and second globally by market share, while Svolt ranked ninth with a 2.6% share, according to SNE Research.

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