#ev-batteries

#ev-batteries

When the word "innovation" is thrown around in the finance world, most investors would immediately jump to the conclusion that a particular investors is talking about a technology company. That's simply because most of the premier examples of innovation that changes the way we live and work has indeed come via technology, at least over the course of the past few decades.

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.