QuantumScape, a specialist in solid-state battery technology and partner of Volkswagen, has completed the installation of its separator production plant, laying the foundation for producing larger quantities of its B-sample cells starting in 2025. The company had begun producing small quantities of its first B-sample cells at the end of October but required the completion of a specialized system for building ceramic separators, known as ‘Cobra’, to scale up manufacturing.
The ‘Cobra’ equipment, developed internally by QuantumScape, has now been fully developed, delivered, installed, and released for initial separator processing. This advancement enables the company to manufacture its B-sample cells on a larger scale, potentially reaching gigawatt-hour production levels. While specific quantities were not disclosed, the company emphasized that this milestone is crucial for scaling its battery technology to meet future market demands.
Tim Holme, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of QuantumScape, stated, “Cobra is a true breakthrough in ceramics manufacturing, and it will pave the way for the scale-up of our battery technology. I’m delighted with how the team has overcome challenges and kept the process rollout on track this year.”
Despite this progress, QuantumScape acknowledges that significant work remains before mass production can commence. Dr. Siva Sivaram, CEO and President of the company, noted, “There is a lot of work ahead of us, and with our track record of consistent execution and delivery on our milestones, I fully expect the team to continue building momentum toward gigawatt-hour scale-up of our technology.”
The B-sample cell, designated QSE-5, is set to become QuantumScape’s first commercial product. The cell boasts a capacity of 5 Ah, an energy density exceeding 844 Wh/l, and can charge from 10% to 80% state of charge in 12.2 minutes. In October, the company began small-scale production and delivery of these cells to automotive sector customers for testing purposes. Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary, PowerCo, is among those collaborating with QuantumScape, aiming to industrialize solid-state batteries following a licensing partnership established in July 2024 for future gigawatt-hour scale production.
QuantumScape highlights that the QSE-5 cells represent a significant milestone in the battery industry, being “the first anode-free solid-state lithium-metal cell design ever produced for automotive applications.” The company is embarking on extensive product testing, which is expected to take many months, and aims to improve metrics such as cell reliability, yield, and equipment productivity.
The QSE-5 cell measures 84.5 mm x 65.6 mm x 4.6 mm, offers an energy density of 844 Wh/L or 301 Wh/kg, supports discharge rates of up to 10C, and operates effectively at temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius. This cell follows previous prototypes, including the ‘A0’ cell samples delivered in December 2022 and the ‘Alpha-2’ cells introduced in March 2024.
Source: QuantumScape
