QuantumScape Releases Next-Generation Solid-State Battery Separator Equipment, Cobra
QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) has announced the successful development, delivery, installation, and initial processing release of Cobra, its next-generation heat treatment equipment for separator production. This achievement marks the completion of all four key annual objectives for 2024 and positions the company for higher-volume sample production of QSE-5 in 2025.
The company's accomplishments include: beginning low-volume QSE-5 prototype production with 844 Wh/L energy density and 12.2-minute fast charging capability (10-80%), ramping up the Raptor process in Q3 2024, and shipping Alpha-2 samples to customers. Cobra represents a significant advancement in ceramic solid-state separator production, enhancing both scalability and cost efficiency.
QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) ha annunciato lo sviluppo, la consegna, l'installazione e il rilascio iniziale del trattamento termico di Cobra, il suo nuovo equipaggiamento di trattamento termico per la produzione di separatori. Questo traguardo segna il completamento di tutti e quattro gli obiettivi annuali chiave per il 2024 e posiziona l'azienda per una produzione di campioni ad alto volume del QSE-5 nel 2025.
Le realizzazioni dell'azienda includono: l'avvio della produzione di prototipi a basso volume QSE-5 con 844 Wh/L di densità energetica e capacità di ricarica rapida in 12,2 minuti (10-80%), l'aumento del processo Raptor nel terzo trimestre del 2024 e la spedizione di campioni Alpha-2 ai clienti. Cobra rappresenta un importante avanzamento nella produzione di separatori solidi ceramici, migliorando sia la scalabilità che l'efficienza dei costi.
QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) ha anunciado el desarrollo, entrega, instalación y liberación inicial del procesamiento de Cobra, su equipo de tratamiento térmico de próxima generación para la producción de separadores. Este logro marca la finalización de los cuatro objetivos anuales clave para 2024 y posiciona a la empresa para una producción de muestras de mayor volumen del QSE-5 en 2025.
Los logros de la empresa incluyen: el inicio de la producción de prototipos de bajo volumen QSE-5 con 844 Wh/L de densidad de energía y capacidad de carga rápida de 12.2 minutos (10-80%), el aumento del proceso Raptor en el tercer trimestre de 2024, y el envío de muestras Alpha-2 a los clientes. Cobra representa un avance significativo en la producción de separadores de estado sólido cerámico, mejorando tanto la escalabilidad como la eficiencia de costos.
QuantumScape (NYSE: QS)는 분리막 생산을 위한 차세대 열처리 장비인 Cobra의 성공적인 개발, 납품, 설치 및 초기 처리 릴리스를 발표했습니다. 이 성과는 2024년의 네 가지 주요 연간 목표를 완료한 것을 의미하며, 2025년에 QSE-5의 대량 샘플 생산을 위한 회사의 입지를 다집니다.
회사의 성과에는 844 Wh/L의 에너지 밀도와 12.2분의 빠른 충전 능력(10-80%)을 갖춘 저용량 QSE-5 프로토타입 생산 시작, 2024년 3분기에 Raptor 프로세스 증가, Alpha-2 샘플 고객 배송 등이 포함됩니다. Cobra는 세라믹 고체상 분리막 생산에서 중요한 발전을 나타내며, 확장성과 비용 효율성을 모두 향상시킵니다.
QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) a annoncé le développement réussi, la livraison, l'installation et le lancement initial du traitement de Cobra, son équipement de traitement thermique de nouvelle génération pour la production de séparateurs. Cette réussite marque l'achèvement des quatre objectifs annuels clés pour 2024 et positionne l'entreprise pour une production d'échantillons à plus fort volume de QSE-5 en 2025.
Les réalisations de l'entreprise incluent : le démarrage de la production de prototypes à faible volume QSE-5 avec une densité énergétique de 844 Wh/L et une capacité de charge rapide de 12,2 minutes (10-80%), l'accélération du processus Raptor au troisième trimestre 2024, et l'expédition d'échantillons Alpha-2 à des clients. Cobra représente un avancement significatif dans la production de séparateurs solides en céramique, améliorant à la fois l'évolutivité et l'efficacité des coûts.
QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) hat die erfolgreiche Entwicklung, Lieferung, Installation und die erste Verarbeitung von Cobra, seiner next-generation Wärmebehandlungsanlage für die Separatorenproduktion, bekanntgegeben. Dieses Ereignis markiert den Abschluss aller vier wichtigen Jahresziele für 2024 und positioniert das Unternehmen für eine höhere Produktionsmenge von QSE-5-Mustern im Jahr 2025.
Zu den Errungenschaften des Unternehmens gehören: der Beginn der Niedrigvolumenproduktion des QSE-5-Prototyps mit 844 Wh/L Energiedichte und einer schnellen Ladefähigkeit von 12,2 Minuten (10-80%), die Hochlaufphase des Raptor-Prozesses im dritten Quartal 2024 und der Versand von Alpha-2-Proben an Kunden. Cobra stellt einen bedeutenden Fortschritt in der Produktion von keramischen Festkörperseparatoren dar, da sowohl die Skalierbarkeit als auch die Kosteneffizienz verbessert werden.
- Successfully developed and installed Cobra equipment for separator production
- Achieved all four key annual objectives for 2024
- QSE-5 prototype demonstrates high energy density of 844 Wh/L
- Fast charging capability of 10-80% in 12.2 minutes
- On track for higher-volume production in 2025
- None.
Insights
The successful deployment of Cobra represents a significant technological breakthrough in solid-state battery manufacturing. The heat treatment equipment for separator production is crucial for scaling up to gigawatt-hour production levels. The integration of both Cobra and Raptor processes demonstrates a complete manufacturing pathway for ceramic separators, a critical component in solid-state batteries.
The QSE-5 prototype's specifications are impressive, achieving 844 Wh/L energy density and 10-80% charging in 12.2 minutes. These metrics are competitive with current lithium-ion technologies while potentially offering better safety characteristics. The progression from Alpha-2 to B samples indicates systematic manufacturing process validation, essential for commercial scale-up.
The achievement of all four key objectives for 2024 ahead of schedule signals strong execution capability. The development path from Alpha-2 to B samples, culminating in the Cobra equipment installation, shows systematic progress toward commercialization. The energy density of 844 Wh/L is particularly notable, as it exceeds many current commercial lithium-ion batteries.
The fast-charging capability and high energy density combination could provide QuantumScape a competitive edge in the EV market. The transition to higher-volume production in 2025 will be critical for validating manufacturing consistency and cost metrics at scale.
Achieving this final key goal of 2024 enables the company’s higher-volume sample production in 2025
Cobra represents a significant innovation in ceramic solid-state separator production, benefiting both scalability and cost efficiency. This milestone is the culmination of years of advanced R&D on QuantumScape’s fast separator production process – the core innovation that will allow its battery technology to be manufactured at gigawatt-hour scale. The company is targeting Cobra integration into its cell production baseline in 2025.
“Cobra is a true breakthrough in ceramics manufacturing, and it will pave the way for the scale up of our battery technology,” said Tim Holme, co-founder and CTO of QuantumScape. “I’m delighted with how the team has overcome challenges and kept the process roll-out on track this year.”
“We set challenging and ambitious goals at the beginning of the year, and it required a focused team effort to achieve all of them,” said Dr. Siva Sivaram, CEO and president of QuantumScape. “There is a lot of work ahead of us, and with our track record of consistent execution and delivery on our milestones, I fully expect the team to continue building momentum toward gigawatt-hour scale up of our technology.”
The company established four annual goals at the beginning of 2024, all focused on integrating the improvements demonstrated at the component level in 2023 into the QSE-5. With the achievement of this milestone, the company has now fulfilled all four of its key annual objectives for 2024.
- Prepare for Cobra production in 2025. With today’s announcement, QuantumScape has taken delivery, installed and released for initial separator processing key equipment for its advanced separator manufacturing process, Cobra.
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Begin low-volume QSE-5 prototype production. In October, QuantumScape announced it had started producing and shipping the first low-volume B samples battery cells for automotive customer testing. The QSE-5 B sample features energy density of 844 Wh/L and is able to fast charge from
10% to80% in 12.2 minutes. - Ramp Raptor process. Raptor, the first stage of QuantumScape’s fast separator production process, entered the company’s baseline process in the third quarter of 2024. These films are used in the low-volume QSE-5 B samples.
- Ship Alpha-2 samples. Earlier in the year, the company announced it started shipping Alpha-2 samples to customers. These cells were precursors to the B samples.
About QuantumScape Corporation
QuantumScape is on a mission to revolutionize energy storage to enable a sustainable future. The company’s next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology is designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging and enhanced safety to support the transition away from legacy energy sources toward a lower carbon future. For more information, visit www.quantumscape.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding QuantumScape’s plans and objectives for future operations and growth, including the production and timing of higher-volume battery samples, the performance and integration of the new production equipment, the performance and scale up of its technology and its applications, and the potential impacts of QuantumScape’s technology, among others. These forward-looking statements are based on QuantumScape management’s current expectations, assumptions, hopes, beliefs, intentions and strategies regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including due to the building out of high volume processes and otherwise to achieve scale, the achievement of the quality, consistency, reliability, safety, cost and throughput required for commercial production and sale, changes in economic and financial conditions, and other factors, including those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in QuantumScape’s Annual Report and Quarterly Reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements.
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Source: QuantumScape Corporation
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