#ev-batteries

#ev-batteries

At the heart of QuantumScape's appeal is its anode-free lithium-metal architecture. It replaces liquid electrolytes with a ceramic separator, boosting energy density to 500 Wh/kg, double that of current lithium-ion packs. Proof arrived in September's real-world motorcycle demo, where a QS cell operated flawlessly for hours without overheating or degradation. The true breakthrough, however, is manufacturing: This summer's "Cobra" upgrade ramps separator production 25-fold, positioning the company to shift from prototypes to gigafactory-scale output by early 2027.

One thing you probably shouldn't worry about? Battery degradation. Studies show that modern EV batteries can last a helluva long time without meaningful deterioration. And an increasing number of owner experiences back that up. But not all owners are Tom Moloughney, our good friend, OG EV expert and host of the State of Charge YouTube channel. Tom put his 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning through the ringer when he first got it just over three years ago.

The $5.8 billion Glendale site currently employs about 1,450 workers and could grow to 5,000 if it reaches full capacity. Its inauguration has come after reaping benefits from the Biden administration's pro-climate policies, mainly the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded BlueOval SK a record $9.3 billion loan to build three battery plants: two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee. At the time, the DOE said the projects would support 5,000 construction jobs and create up to 7,500 operations jobs.