QuantumScape (NYSE:QS) is a U.S.-based technology development company focused on solid-state technology for the EV industry. Jagdeep Singh, Tim Holme and Fritz Prinz, a trio from Stanford University, formed the company in 2010.
The company quickly gained major investors' attention. By 2012, it claimed investors like Bill Gates and Volkswagen. The company's solid-state battery technology piqued their interest as technology that will revolutionize the EV market by providing extended ranges and significantly reduced charge times at a lower cost to manufacturers.
Volkswagen is the company's largest shareholder and has injected millions into the company over its lifespan. The first round came in 2012 but was followed by a $100 million investment in 2018 and another $200 million in 2020. The two now have a joint venture to produce commercial solid-state batteries, and that venture made significant progress in 2022. The technology has two key features: an anode-less architecture and a proprietary ceramic separator.
QuantumScape went public in 2020 via a reverse merger with SPAC Kensington Capital Acquisition Company. The IPO listed the stock on the NYSE and raised $1 billion in capital for the company. The money funded operations and research that led to prototypes of commercially viable solid-state batteries for the EV market. The target is to increase the range of EVs by as much as 80%, which would give them more range than most ICE vehicles.
The company uses solid electrodes and electrolytes instead of the liquids and gels used by legacy batteries like lithium-ion. These batteries provide more than double the energy density of traditional batteries at lower costs and can charge to near full capacity in a matter of minutes. Solid state also increases the lifespan of the batteries and reduces capacity fade or the tendency for batteries to lose capacity over time. Another bonus is combustibility. While traditional batteries are prone to combustion, the solid-state separator is neither flammable nor combustible.
The company began shipping its 24-layer lithium-metal battery prototypes to OEMs in late 2022. The company believes the technology is suitable for various applications, including EVs and consumer electronics. At the time, there was still substantial work to be done before the widespread use of the batteries could begin, but the news marked a major milestone that could accelerate the advancement of the technology.
According to the company's CEO, Singh, the "E" in ESG has always been central to the company's strategy. The mission should accelerate the shift to electrification and greener technologies by improving battery technology. Once perfected, this technology could be used across the consumer and industrial landscape, providing increased range and reducing the need for backup, carbon-based power sources.
