QuantumScape and PowerCo Debut Solid-State Batteries in Ducati Motorcycle at IAA Mobility
A new chapter in electric mobility was written at this year’s IAA Mobility when QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE: QS), a pioneer in next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries, and PowerCo SE, the Volkswagen Group’s dedicated battery company, unveiled the world’s first live demonstration of a Ducati motorcycle powered by QuantumScape’s solid-state battery cells.
The high-profile event took place during the Volkswagen Group press conference in Munich, where attendees witnessed a Ducati V21L race prototype fitted with QSE-5 solid-state battery cells riding across the main stage. The demonstration marked the first time an anode-free solid-state battery transitioned from controlled laboratory testing to powering a real-world electric vehicle, symbolizing a pivotal leap forward in the global race toward advanced EV batteries.
A Breakthrough Moment for Solid-State Technology
Solid-state batteries have long been hailed as the “holy grail” of electric mobility. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes and graphite anodes, QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal cells eliminate the anode altogether. This breakthrough design enables a dramatic leap across five critical performance categories that have historically constrained EV adoption:
- Energy density – delivering more range without increasing battery size or weight.
- Charging speed – drastically reducing the time required to recharge.
- Safety – eliminating flammable liquid electrolytes and reducing thermal runaway risks.
- Cycle life – offering longer-lasting performance without rapid degradation.
- Cost efficiency – paving the way for scalable, affordable production at gigafactories.
The Ducati prototype motorcycle on display demonstrated some of these performance metrics in action. The QSE-5 cells, produced with QuantumScape’s Cobra separator manufacturing process, have already demonstrated 844 Wh/L energy density, enabling longer riding ranges and compact battery design. The cells also achieved 10% to 80% charging in just over 12 minutes and delivered a 10C continuous discharge rate, critical for high-performance applications like motorsports.
Ducati as the Perfect Proving Ground
The Ducati V21L, originally developed as a race bike for MotoE competition, provided the perfect platform to showcase the technology. Audi engineers, part of the Volkswagen Group, designed a custom battery system architecture specifically tailored to QuantumScape’s cells. By testing in a racing environment, QuantumScape and PowerCo gain access to some of the most demanding use cases for batteries – rapid acceleration, frequent charging cycles, extreme heat, and rigorous power output.
“Motorcycles are unforgiving platforms for batteries because of their limited space and high-performance requirements,” said a Volkswagen Group engineer during the showcase. “If the cells can excel here, it provides strong validation for their scalability to cars and larger vehicles.”
The race track will therefore serve as a stress test environment for QuantumScape’s technology before wider commercial rollout. Ducati, with its reputation for Italian craftsmanship, performance engineering, and motorsport heritage, offers the ideal partner to put the batteries through their paces.
Voices from the Stage
During the demonstration, Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, introduced the Ducati prototype before passing the spotlight to QuantumScape and PowerCo executives, who emphasized the broader implications of the debut.
“Today we’ve crossed the threshold from possibility to reality,” said Dr. Siva Sivaram, CEO and President of QuantumScape. “Our collaboration with PowerCo, together with Ducati as our demonstration partner, positions us to scale this technology toward gigawatt-hour-level production. This is more than a technical milestone—it is a vision of the future of electrified mobility, one where performance and sustainability go hand in hand.”
Frank Blome, CEO of PowerCo, added:
“The EV revolution is the most profound transformation in the automotive industry’s history. Solid-state batteries will redefine what premium vehicles can achieve, and today’s demonstration is just the first glimpse. By combining QuantumScape’s breakthrough science with PowerCo’s industrial know-how, we’re accelerating the journey to bring these batteries to mass production.”
From Laboratory Innovation to Industrial Scaling
The Ducati debut is not an isolated event but part of a broader roadmap that QuantumScape and PowerCo have been pursuing.
- Cobra Production Process: In June 2025, QuantumScape successfully integrated its proprietary Cobra separator manufacturing process into baseline production. This separator technology is key to enabling the unique performance of the QSE-5 cells, balancing high conductivity with mechanical stability.
- Strategic Collaboration with PowerCo: Earlier this year, the two companies expanded their non-exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement, which now includes up to $131 million in milestone-based payments over the next two years. This agreement ensures that PowerCo gains access to QuantumScape’s core intellectual property, helping transfer technology into Volkswagen Group’s global gigafactories.
- Scaling Up Production: The next phase will focus on moving from prototype cell deliveries to larger-scale production volumes. With PowerCo’s manufacturing expertise, QuantumScape aims to standardize production methods for its solid-state cells, a critical step toward making them cost-competitive with today’s lithium-ion batteries.
Industry Implications
The Ducati showcase at IAA Mobility is far more than a flashy stage event. It represents a watershed moment for the EV ecosystem, as automakers, suppliers, and regulators alike push for solutions to meet 2030 sustainability targets.
If successfully scaled, QuantumScape’s technology could:
- Extend EV driving ranges by 50% or more without increasing vehicle weight.
- Enable ultra-fast charging, making EV recharging as convenient as refueling gasoline vehicles.
- Reduce reliance on graphite anodes, helping to diversify supply chains and reduce environmental impacts.
- Boost adoption of electric motorcycles, an area where battery weight and performance have been major hurdles.
Analysts note that while challenges remain—particularly in achieving manufacturing scale and reducing costs—the live demonstration significantly boosts confidence in QuantumScape’s progress. For years, solid-state batteries have existed mostly in PowerPoint slides and laboratory test cells; now they’ve powered a moving Ducati on one of the industry’s biggest stages.
A Glimpse Into the Future
Looking ahead, QuantumScape and PowerCo envision deploying QSE-5 cells across a range of premium Volkswagen Group vehicles, from Audi and Porsche sports cars to Ducati motorcycles and potentially Bentley luxury sedans. Once performance validation in motorcycles is complete, the focus will shift to adapting the cells for larger automotive battery packs, ensuring consistency, safety, and cost efficiency.
For Ducati, the project aligns with its long-term electrification strategy. While Ducati remains a performance-driven brand, it has openly embraced electric racing as a testbed for future consumer products. By partnering with cutting-edge innovators like QuantumScape, Ducati can deliver electrified motorcycles that still meet the company’s uncompromising standards for speed, agility, and rider experience.
The unveiling of the Ducati V21L powered by QuantumScape’s solid-state batteries at IAA Mobility 2025 will likely be remembered as one of the year’s most consequential moments in the EV industry. It represents the first public demonstration of a technology that promises to redefine the limits of electric performance, while also addressing core barriers to EV adoption.
As QuantumScape CEO Dr. Siva Sivaram noted, the world has now seen solid-state batteries move from “possibility to reality.” Backed by Volkswagen Group’s PowerCo and tested under Ducati’s demanding motorsport conditions, this innovation could accelerate the timeline for solid-state batteries to reach consumers—and, ultimately, help reshape the future of mobility.
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.
