- At the IAA Munich earlier this month, Volkswagen showed off its first vehicle powered by solid-state batteries: a Ducati V21L electric motorcycle.
- VW is working on battery-powered cars and motorcycles and sees solid-state batteries as the way to make them competitive and profitable.
- The bike in question was seen to roll about 15 feet under its own power.
At IAA Munich, Volkswagen stunned the electric vehicle world by unveiling the first vehicle across its brand portfolio to feature a solid-state battery—the Ducati V21L from MotoE.
The Ducati V21L became the first Volkswagen Group vehicle to operate on a solid-state lithium-metal battery, though the demonstration was brief—a rider appeared, rode a few feet onto the stage, and then stopped. Still, it marks a notable step forward in the ongoing development of solid-state battery technology.
The solid-state battery powering the vehicle was developed by QuantumScape and PowerCo.
‘The future of e-mobility is here,’ Volkswagen declared after the event. ‘PowerCo, Ducati, and Audi have for the first time equipped an all-electric motorcycle with QuantumScape’s groundbreaking solid-state battery. This tech demonstrator marks a key milestone on the path from laboratory to series production, offering a glimpse of e-mobility’s future with longer ranges and faster charging times.’
QuantumScape CEO Siva Sivaram appeared on stage with the bike, though he remained somewhat reserved.
‘We still have work ahead, but we’re making progress,’ he said. ‘Our goal is clear: to deliver commercial automotive cells before the end of the decade.’
A quick search provides a broad overview of the technology: solid-state batteries replace the liquid or gel electrolytes found in conventional lithium-ion batteries with a solid material. This change enables higher energy density, faster charging, longer lifespan, and enhanced safety thanks to the non-flammable electrolyte. Often described as the ‘next generation’ of energy storage, solid-state batteries hold significant promise for electric vehicles and a range of other applications.
Creating a solid-state battery that is functional, mass-producible, and affordable has long eluded researchers—until now, perhaps. The challenges are significant: solid electrolytes that conduct ions efficiently are hard to find, lithium dendrites—tiny needle-like structures—can form and pierce the separator, and solid electrolytes themselves can be brittle, failing entirely if cracked. The list of hurdles goes on.
Yet, there it was on the IAA stage—a Ducati powered by a solid-state battery.
So far, researchers have struggled to create a solid-state battery that is functional and suitable for mass production.
It’s notable that Volkswagen Group selected the Ducati V21L for its battery demonstration. This model serves as the spec bike for the FIM’s MotoE electric motorcycle racing series, which is set to be paused due to low fan interest.
The Ducati MotoE project was launched to develop internal expertise, preparing the company for the day battery technology makes an electric road bike in line with Borgo Panigale’s values possible,’ Ducati explained. The company added that it had gathered extensive data from the series, with 18 riders competing in races worldwide alongside MotoGP.
Over the three years Ducati supplied bikes to the racers, the company noted that advancements in the battery cells reduced the weight of the packs by 18 pounds. While this was a meaningful reduction, it was still insufficient to make the bikes as light as an internal combustion race bike with comparable range.
In the V21L, Ducati achieved roughly 844 watt-hours per liter, a 10%-80% charge in just over 12 minutes, and sufficient power for racing without the battery fading. Yet, even with these gains, it still wasn’t enough.
