Shares of QuantumScape Corp (NASDAQ:QS) are trending on Wednesday after the company announced Osprey, its next-generation open platform for all-solid-state batteries.
- QuantumScape stock is gaining positive traction. Why is QS stock advancing?
QuantumScape Unveils Osprey, Citing 1,000 Cycles Under Low Pressure
In a press release, QuantumScape said early tests show Osprey cells completing 1,000 full charge cycles with about 80% capacity retention under just one atmosphere of pressure. The company called it the world’s first public data showing a sulfide-based cathode cycling 1,000 times at that pressure, a capability it says automotive solid-state batteries need.
The result matters because the industry has long pursued sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries without producing a commercially viable one. Sulfides can react with lithium metal, which shortens battery life, and they typically require high pressure to operate, which is impractical for vehicles.
Osprey pairs QuantumScape’s ceramic separator and anode-free lithium-metal design with a solid cathode. In early testing, the cells also charged from 10% to 80% in five minutes and worked in temperatures below minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit. QuantumScape projects energy densities of up to about 1,100 Wh/L.
The commercial angle may matter most to investors. Osprey is an open platform that can work with a range of cathode chemistries, and QuantumScape has tested it with cathodes developed in-house and by its automotive customers. The platform opens new licensing and co-development options for existing customers and extends the company’s offering to developers of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. Cells based on the QSE platform are already shipping to customers, and QuantumScape describes Osprey as its long-term technology solution.
“Osprey is the result of years of frontier R&D efforts, and we’re excited to share it publicly for the first time,” said Siva Sivaram, president and CEO of QuantumScape. “The industry has invested heavily in sulfide-based batteries but keeps hitting the same fundamental limits. As the data shows, Osprey can address these limitations. We believe Osprey can unlock the full potential of all-solid-state batteries, and our goal is to make it the leading platform for solid-state battery development.”
QS Shares Rebound From a 52-Week Low
QS Price Action: QuantumScape shares were up 0.45% at $4.47 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro. Shares continue to recover after hitting a 52-week low of $3.80 on Oct. 15.
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