Solid-state battery developer QuantumScape has begun delivering B1 samples of its QSE-5 cell. These samples are the company’s most advanced solid-state battery cells to date and will be used in a similar form in QuantumScape’s first vehicle programme with Volkswagen.
Among other things, the B1 samples feature separators manufactured using QuantumScape’s new production process called ‘Cobra’. The US company has now announced that the delivery of the B1 samples marks a milestone that was one of its most important goals for the year. The company has not specified who it has passed the new samples on to. However, Volkswagen is likely to be among the recipients, as the ties between QuantumScape and the Wolfsburg-based company are close and have recently been strengthened once again. What’s more, according to QuantumScape, these ‘Cobra-based QSE-5 cells’ will also be used in the first vehicle programme with the VW Group, which we reported on recently. The focus is on the Ducati V21L motorcycle, which is equipped with solid-state batteries and is being extensively tested.
Back in June, QuantumScape announced in an investor communication that it had now implemented its ‘Cobra’ process for manufacturing ceramic separators. The separators are a key component of QuantumScape’s planned lithium metal battery cells with solid electrolyte. The new manufacturing process is expected to further improve the scalability of the cells, thus laying the foundation for larger-scale production of B1 samples.
“We are proud to announce the start of deliveries of these QSE-5 samples,” said Dr Luca Fasoli, Chief Operating Officer of Quantum Scape. “We are working together with our partners to bring our groundbreaking solid-state lithium-metal battery technology to market as quickly as possible. This announcement is another critical step toward achieving our goal of revolutionizing energy storage.”
Let’s remember: QuantumScape began producing small quantities of its first B-sample cells at the end of October 2024. However, the ‘Cobra process’ was still missing as a crucial piece of the puzzle in order to be able to manufacture on a larger scale. The company has not specified exactly what quantities QuantumScape has in mind. However, the plant should enable “QuantumScape’s solid-state battery platform to be brought to market on a gigawatt scale.”
The cell, called QSE-5, is set to become QuantumScape’s first commercial product – with a capacity of 5 Ah, an energy density of over 844 Wh/l and a charging time of 12.2 minutes from 10% to 80% SoC (state of charge). In October 2024, according to the manufacturer, it began small-scale production and delivery of B-samples for testing to customers in the automotive sector. Among the recipients was Volkswagen, whose battery subsidiary PowerCo is aiming to industrialise solid-state batteries and signed a deal with QuantumScape in July 2024, which was extended again in July 2025. The aim is to establish a licensing partnership for the subsequent “series production of solid-state cells on a gigawatt-hour scale.”
The company describes the QSE-5 as a solid-state battery cell measuring 84.5 mm x 65.6 mm x 4.6 mm. The developers specify the energy density as 844 Wh/L or 301 Wh/kg, with a discharge rate of up to 10C. In addition, the cell is designed to function even at low temperatures of up to -30 degrees Celsius. The QSE-5 was preceded by two cell prototypes at QuantumScape: the company had already delivered the ‘A0’ cell samples to car manufacturers for testing shortly before Christmas 2022. The so-called ‘Alpha-2’ cells followed in March 2024.
quantumscape.com
