Idemitsu Kosan

New Capabilities

Building solid electrolyte pilot plant for Toyota partnership

For three decades, solid-state batteries have been the promised revolution that never arrived—a technology that would double EV range, enable five-minute charging, and eliminate fire risks. Toyota has been working on it since 1990. QuantumScape raised billions. Fisker claimed breakthroughs then abandoned the effort. Now a 20-person Finnish startup called Donut Lab says it has done what none of them could: put production solid-state batteries on the road. But on January 20, 2026, Yang Hongxin, CEO of Chinese battery giant Svolt Energy, called Donut Lab's claims "a scam," stating that "all the parameters are contradictory" and "any technician with basic knowledge would recognize it." With four weeks remaining until the Q1 2026 delivery deadline expires on March 31, verification is imminent.

Updated Feb 4