QuantumScape, PowerCo (Volkswagen) and Ducati present the world's first vehicle powered by solid-state electric batteries: a Ducati V21L powered by QSE-5 cells.
QuantumScape, a solid-state battery developer, and PowerCo, its business partner and a battery manufacturing company within the Volkswagen Group, have just completed their first real-world vehicle demonstration of their QS solid-state lithium battery. Specifically, the battery with high-energy-density solid-state cells powers a Ducati V21L.
At the IAA in Munich, the fruit of the development agreement between QuantumScape and PowerCo announced a year ago was presented live for the first time. On stage at IAA 2025, executives from QuantumScape, Volkswagen Group, PowerCo, and Ducati they presented a version of the Ducati V21L electric powered exclusively by QSE-5 solid-state cells, produced using the QS Cobra manufacturing process.
This prototype represents a significant advancement in battery technology, moving from the laboratory to real-world vehicle applications. QuantumScape's solid-state technology with lithium metal anode and ceramic separator is not simply an evolution of traditional lithium-ion batteries, but a completely new cell technology, offering significant advantages in energy density, fast charging capability, safety, and longevity.
La Ducati The modified electric V21L powered by QS solid-state technology crossed the main stage during a speech by Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen Group Components. The demo motorcycle features a unique battery system, specifically designed for the 980 cells of the QS solid-state battery, and highlights the potential of this technology on the track. This will be a rigorous testbed for QS technology, which has demonstrated unique capabilities, including an energy density of 844 Wh/L and a fast charge from 10% to 80% in just over 12 minutes.
Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board Member for Technology: "The solid-state battery has the potential to revolutionize electric mobility. Together with our partner QuantumScape, we intend to industrialize the technology and take the next step towards series production. With PowerCo's unified cell, we have the ideal conditions for this: it is solid-state ready and allows for rapid technology transfer to the Group's vehicles as soon as it is ready. The Group's battery strategy is forward-looking and at the same time enables unprecedented economies of scale."
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati: “In Ducati We have a long tradition of pushing technological boundaries to enhance the riding experience both on the road and on the track. Our pursuit of innovation has led to incredible results, including a record six consecutive MotoGP constructors' titles. The high energy density achieved with solid-state technology is perfect for a high-performance vehicle like a sports motorcycle.
Siva Sivaram, CEO of QuantumScape: “Today, QuantumScape's solid-state battery takes a step closer to commercialization. For over a decade, we've been working closely with the Volkswagen Group to develop our cutting-edge technology, which delivers the range, charging speed, and safety that electric vehicle drivers desire. Our goal now is to bring this technology to market and redefine high-performance electric mobility.”
Over the coming months, the project partners will continue to test and refine the solid-state technology. The next phase is the development of a racing motorcycle for track testing. In parallel, PowerCo and QuantumScape are already working on integrating the solid-state technology into the unified cell, and subsequently into the car. The goal is to develop a commercially viable solution by the end of the decade. The two companies have been engaged in close development collaboration for several years and have formed a joint industrialization team at QuantumScape's headquarters in San Jose, California.
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The technique of Ducati MotoE 2025
Photos: MotoGP
