QuantumScape

QuantumScape makes next-generation batteries for electric cars. These batteries help vehicles charge faster and drive further. The company helps car makers build safer electric vehicles.

Reinventing Energy Storage

• Solid-State Separator: Proprietary ceramic layer that replaces the liquid electrolyte found in standard lithium-ion batteries.
• QSE-5 Cell: Flagship battery product designed with a 5 amp-hour capacity for automotive applications.
• Anode-Free Architecture: Technology that allows a lithium-metal anode to form during the first charge, saving weight and space.

Partnerships and Prototypes

• Entered a major collaboration in July 2024 with PowerCo SE, the battery subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.
• Updated the PowerCo SE agreement in July 2025 to create a joint team focused on manufacturing technology.
• Shipped initial A0 prototype battery cells to multiple automotive manufacturers for testing in 2022.
• Began producing and shipping B-sample cells for the QSE-5 battery line during 2024.

Changing How Batteries Work

The company uses a unique ceramic separator that allows for an anode-free design, where lithium metal forms the negative side of the battery only when it is charged. This process eliminates the need for expensive anode materials and reduces the time required for battery manufacturing compared to traditional methods.

The Path to Commercialization

• Gross profit was -$14.8 million in Q1 2026, which narrowed from -$18.3 million in Q1 2025.
• Operating income hit -$109.2 million in Q1 2026, an 11.6% improvement from the -$123.6 million loss in Q1 2025.
• Net loss reached -$100.8 million in Q1 2026, an 11.9% improvement over the -$114.4 million loss the previous year.
• Total cash and marketable securities were $904.7 million as of March 31, 2026, down from $970.8 million at the end of 2025.

Current Status

QuantumScape is moving from laboratory research toward the industrial scale-up of its solid-state battery technology. The company relies on technical milestones and partnerships with major manufacturers like the Volkswagen Group to bring its products to the mass market.