Verge Launches Solid-State Battery Motor Technology with a Range of 553 Km at the CES Las Vegas

JAKARTA - After Volkswagen Group which made a surprise at the IAA Munich exhibition last year by showing off the Ducati V21L electric racing motorcycle from the MotoE series powered by a solid-state battery, now it's the turn of the Finnish electric motorcycle manufacturer, Verge Motorcycles, to surprise on the stage of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 in Las Vegas. Introducing the latest variant of the TS Pro model which is now armed with solid-state battery technology.

This breakthrough is a technological leap that was previously predicted to be born from automotive giants such as Honda or a large battery manufacturer from China, CATL.

Launching MCN, Monday, January 5, the development of this revolutionary battery was carried out by Donut Lab, a sister company of the UK-based Verge. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that use liquid or gel electrolytes, this solid-state design uses a solid electrolyte that is claimed to be much safer from the risk of fire. Verge even plans to soon abandon the use of lithium-ion cells entirely and switch to this technology because in addition to the safety factor, solid-state batteries offer a much longer life.

The charging performance offered is also extraordinary and has the potential to change the lifestyle of electric motorcycle riders. For the variant with a 18 kWh battery, users are claimed to be able to travel up to 200 km by charging for 10 minutes using a DC fast charger. Meanwhile, the larger variant with a capacity of 30 kWh is capable of traveling around 300 km in the same 10-minute charging duration, with a total maximum mileage of up to 553 km in a single full charge.

In terms of design, despite the battery capacity increasing drastically, the dimensions of the motor remain compact thanks to the use of a flat rectangular plate-shaped battery cell. This design allows for more compact packaging inside the battery box compared to the use of old cylindrical cells. To keep the temperature optimal, Verge attaches a cooling plate between the cells as well as cooling fins on the outside of the battery box. Interestingly, this breakthrough immediately made the new lithium-ion version of the TS Pro model at last year's EICMA Milan exhibition look obsolete.

In addition to its battery advantage, the Verge TS Pro still maintains its iconic features, namely the hubless rear wheel design. This motor uses the Donut Motor 2.0 which is completely electromagnetic without requiring a radius or a central shaft. With the combination of a lightweight electromagnetic engine and solid-state battery technology that can charge as fast as the duration of a cup of coffee, Verge is not only selling an electric motor, but is redefining the future of environmentally friendly transportation.