Solid-state battery developer QuantumScape has recently shared its Q2 2023 report, offering several updates on its progress toward reaching commercialization – particularly in the EV segment. The company is reporting stellar milestones including a shipment of high cathode-loading cells to automotive partners as well as details of a potential customer chosen for an official launch of its first product.
QuantumScape ($QS) is an advanced battery technology company with well over a decade’s worth of experience developing (hopefully) scalable, ultra energy-dense solid-state battery cells that can one day achieve cost parity with traditional lithium-ion cells popular in current EV models.
Despite its tenure in the nascent, holy-grail space of solid-state cells, the company didn’t truly start making believers out of us until 2020, when it announced it had reached a “major breakthrough” by utilizing a proprietary ceramic separator. This led to single-layer prototype cell testing, followed by 10-layer cells, then 16-layer prototypes.
By Q2 of 2022, QuantumScape had expanded its technology to energy-dense, 24-layer cells, ripe for vigorous internal testing. These Sample-A cells, represented the beginning of a three-step journey (A, B, and C) toward automotive qualification and eventual production.
Last December of 2022, QuantumScape began delivering the first 24-layer A0 prototype cells to automotive partners for them to test themselves and by Q1 of 2023, testing had been completed by at least one unnamed EV OEM.
At that same time, QuantumScape shared that its first commercial solid-state product will be an ~5 Ah cell called QSE-5. According to its Q2 2023 report, QuantumScape shared it is now shipping those prototype cells to partners as well.
Credit: QuantumScape
QuantumScape remains on track in Q2
The solid-state specialist outlined details of its progress the past three months in a letter to shareholders expressing optimism and progress toward core goals previously outlined. One of which was to increase the cathode-loading capabilities of its cells which enables higher cell energy within the same design footprint.
These advanced cathodes, bolstered by anode-free lithium-metal technology, offer loading that is greater than 5 mAh/cm² – significantly higher than cathodes QS has previously shipped to customers (~3.1 mAh/cm²), and still capable of storing more energy than 2170 cells used in some of the longest range EVs on the current market (~4.3 mAh/cm²). See chart above.
In its Q2 report, QuantumScape confirmed that it has already shipped these new high cathode-loading cells to multiple automotive partners, remaining on track in its development timelines. Combined with the aforementioned 24-layer prototype cells, QuantumScape believes it can soon deliver “industry-leading energy and power performance,” and its latest shipment validates that.
Credit: QuantumScape
One of those partners that is currently testing the prototype cells may end up being the first OEM to commercially launch the company’s flagship QSE-5 in an EV. The Q2 2023 report states that QuantumScape is already in cahoots with a prospective launch partner in the automotive sector. QS says it is working with this mystery partner to bring its technology to the EV market ASAP.
When QSE-5 does hit the EV market donning someone’s badge, QuantumScape is anticipating some decent charge rates. The battery developer had previously targeted a 10-80% fast charge in 15 minute, and reported that it has successfully demonstrated it (see chart above). Here are some additional updates from QuantumScape’s Q2 report:
The A0 prototype cells successfully passed all safety tests with a hazard levels of 3 or lower as defined by EUCAR and SAE J2464 standards, including nail penetration, overcharge, external short circuit, and thermal stability testing up to 300°C.
QS’ previously laid out plans to implement a fast separator heat-treatment process in manufacturing will roll out in two phases – Raptor and Cobra (I love these names).
Raptor is already complete and introduces a step-change process allowing continuous flow heat treatment to process the separator films faster with less total heat energy exerted.
Raptor is expected to support B0 prototype cell production samples in 2024, and QS expects initial qualifying production to begin before the end of 2023.
Cobra will build off Raptor and add even faster processing – particularly in the cell’s ceramics.
QuantumScape see’s Cobra as a potential game changer in scaled manufacturing and is currently operating prototypes before an initial production system is implemented on the QS-0 assembly line for B-sample cells.
QuantumScape ended Q2 2023 with over $900 million in liquidity and believes it has enough runway to continue development into the second half of 2025. That’s all for now – until next quarter!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Who said hatchbacks are going out of style? Kia’s first electric hatchback, the EV4, went on sale in the UK on Monday, offering the longest driving range of any of its EVs to date. Here’s a full breakdown of prices and specs.
Meet the EV4, Kia’s first electric hatchback
After launching the sedan version in Korea in April, the EV4 already took the top spot as the best-selling domestic electric sedan in its second month on the market. It’s already being called a “box office hit.” Now, the new hatch variant is officially on sale.
Kia opened orders for the EV4 hatchback in the UK on Monday, starting from £34,695 ($47,700). The EV4 is Kia’s first crack at an electric hatchback.
With an impressive 388 miles of WLTP driving range, it’s also the longest driving range of any EV Kia has ever produced.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
The hatch is based on the same E-GMP platform as the EV4 sedan and Kia’s other electric vehicles, but it’s custom-tailored for European buyers.
The base EV4 “Air” is available with two battery packs: 58.2 kWh or 81.4 kWh, providing a WLTP driving range of up to 273 miles or 388 miles on a full charge. Kia said it’s the brand’s first electric vehicle offering a range of over 380 miles.
Kia EV4 hatchback GT-Line (Source: Kia)
The sporty “GT-Line” and top-spec “GT-Line S” variants are available exclusively with the extended range (81.4 kWh) battery, which offers a range of 362 miles.
All EV4 hatchback models are powered by a single front motor with 201 bhp (150 kW) and 283 Nm of torque, good for a 0 to 62 mph sprint in 7.5 secs.
Kia EV4 hatchback (Source: Kia)
The interior features a similar setup to Kia’s latest EV models, like the EV3 and EV9, with its new connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) at the center. The setup features dual 12.3″ driver clusters and infotainment screens in a curved panoramic display. An additional 5.3″ touchscreen for climate control is included for easy access to heating and ventilation functions.
Like the EV3, Kia’s electric hatchback will include an AI Assistant, powered by ChatGPT. It will also be the brand’s first vehicle with several entertainment settings, including “Rest mode” and Theatre mode.”
Kia EV4 hatchback interior (Source: Kia)
With all the seats upright, the electric hatch has a boot space of 435 liters, which Kia claims makes it “one of the most practical vehicles in its segment.”
With a length of 4,430 mm, a width of 1,860 mm, and a height of 1,485 mm, the EV4 hatchback is about the size of Kia’s XCreed.
The EV4 hatch can recharge from 10% to 80% in 29 minutes, while the larger battery will take approximately 31 minutes to charge using a 350 kW DC fast charger.
Kia EV4 hatchback trim
Starting Price
Driving Range (WLTP)
Air Standard Range
£34,695 ($47,700)
273 miles
Air Long Range
£37,695 ($51,700)
388 miles
GT-Line
£39,395 ($54,000)
362 miles
GT-Line S
£43,895 ($60,200)
362 miles
Kia EV4 hatchback prices and range in the UK
Kia opened orders for the new electric hatch on Monday, July 1. It will join the EV3, EV6, and EV9 in the brand’s European lineup. The EV4 hatchback will be built at Kia’s plant in Slovakia to expedite deliveries, which are scheduled to begin in the Fall.
Kia also announced on Monday that a new EV4 Fastback variant will join the lineup, but didn’t offer any additional details. More info, including prices and specs, “will be revealed in due course.” Check back soon for the latest.
What do you think of Kia’s first electric hatchback? Would you buy one in the US? Unfortunately, it’s not likely to make the trip overseas, but we will see the sedan version launch at some point in early 2026. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Tesla (TSLA) is about to release its Q2 2025 delivery and production results. Here, we examine what Wall Street expects and what would make sense in reality.
Wall Street has struggled to understand Tesla’s decline in deliveries over the past year.
The analyst consensus for the first quarter was over 450,000 deliveries in January, but that number dropped to 377,000 deliveries by the end of the quarter.
They had to adjust down by 73,000 units, or about $3 billion in sales, over just two months, and they still got it wrong by more than 40,000 units.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Something similar is happening this quarter.
The Wall Street consensus was for 444,000 deliveries in April, indicating that analysts believed Tesla when it stated that the poor performance in the first quarter was solely due to the Model Y changeover and that it could return to growth or maintain demand, as it had delivered approximately 444,000 vehicles in Q2 2024.
However, that consensus waned throughout the quarter as data confirmed that Tesla is not production-constrained, yet still faces significant demand issues.
The Wall Street consensus for Tesla’s Q2 deliveries is now at 385,000 vehicles.
This represents a 13% decline year-over-year, despite Tesla currently offering record discounts and incentives, including 0% financing on both the Model 3 and Model Y in most markets.
However, it is likely that analysts are again overestimating deliveries.
Electrek’s Take
We have great data in Europe and China, where Tesla is basically down by a few thousand units despite the new Model Y being widely available during the second quarter.
The only primary market with limited data for the second quarter is the US.
The US is likely where the new Model Y had the biggest positive impact, and Tesla will need to perform well there for deliveries to surpass its Q1 2025 results.
The automaker has no chance at annual growth in the second quarter, but based on the best data available, I think it should end between 330,000 and 360,000 units – way below the current analyst consensus.
The lower end of the spectrum would result in a massive 25% drop in annual deliveries, while the higher end would result in a still significant 19% drop.
There’s no other way to cut it: Tesla’s automotive business is in crisis.
The crazy thing is that Wall Street is completely missing this story and only adjusting for the decline throughout the quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, analysts still expected Tesla to avoid a decline in deliveries in 2025, with approximately 1,850,000 vehicles.
The consensus now stands at 1.6 million units, which is still likely too high by 100,000 units, representing billions of dollars in sales.
Furthermore, they predict that Tesla will experience a resurgence in growth in 2026, despite the EV tax credit being eliminated in the US, its least affected market so far.
Tesla has minimal prospects for returning to automotive growth beyond some significant reforms that are nowhere in sight, given Musk’s leadership.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Tesla’s stock (TSLA) crashed by as much as 5% in pre-market trading after President Trump threatened to set DOGE on Elon Musk, who has been criticizing his ‘Big Beautiful Bill’.
After being kindly shown the door to the White House last month, Musk had a brief moment of clarity and started to criticize Trump and the Republican party, which he helped elect with almost $300 million of his own money in the 2024 elections.
He highlighted how Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is expected to increase the deficit and debt. The Tesla CEO even linked Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, something that has been well known for decades, but Musk conveniently ignored it as he was backing the President and wearing hats that read, “Trump was right about everything.”
Musk quickly calmed down and even apologized for “going too far” and started praising Trump again.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
That didn’t last long.
Over the last few days, as the Senate attempts to pass Trump’s budget and tax bill, Musk has renewed his efforts to halt the legislation.
The CEO appeared to renew the attacks after the Senate updated the bill to kill the EV incentive sooner and to increase taxes on solar and wind projects.
However, Musk said that he doesn’t mind EV and renewable energy subsidies going away, but he believes that fossil fuel subsidies should also be removed, which is not in the plans at all.
Trump campaigned on Musk’s money, claiming that he would get America to “drill, baby, drill” again.
The CEO went as far as threatening any Senator who vote for the bill, all Republicans, to face his money in their next primary. He added that if the bill passes, he will create a new “America Party.’
Musk’s attacks have focused on the bill itself and the Republicans voting for it, but Trump likes to call it his bill, and unsurprisingly, he is unhappy with Musk.
Last night, he took to Truth Social to highlight again that Musk “would probably have to close up shop and head back to South Africa” without US government subsidies.
The President then suggested that he could have DOGE, a department that Musk created, go after him and the subsidies that his companies get:
Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one. Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!
Tesla’s stock dropped by more than 4% in pre-market trading following the President’s threat.
Musk responded to the President by pointing out that he is asking to remove the subsidies, but he didn’t add his usual caveat of also removing all subsidies for fossil fuel.
Electrek’s Take
It’s both sad and funny to see Elon now. It’s sad because the US is plunging back into an energy dark age of relying on fossil fuels. Still, it’s amusing because Elon is acting as if he’s just now realizing what he has done, despite everyone but a few cult members screaming at him that this was going to happen for the last year.
Elon got what he wanted out of Trump with his $300 million, and now, he realizes that his influence has limits and that Trump is going to do way more damage than just what Musk wanted out of him: to stop illegal immigration and the so scary “woke mind virus.”
The result will be a significant blow to the growth of electric vehicles and clean energy in the US, and Tesla will be affected in the process, exactly what we have been saying for the last year.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.