Investigation finds Donut Lab made false claims about revolutionary battery technology

In January, there was a lot of buzz around an announcement from the Finnish company Donut Lab: it claimed to have created the world’s first lab. Solid state battery ready for production.

Donut batteryIt is marketed as an energy source beyond Verge TS Pro motorcycleis claimed to be a “pioneer” in bringing this new battery technology to a production-ready electric vehicle. During CES 2026, it was the phone-sized Donut Lab powerhouse that made it to the final stage Best transportation on CNET category, where we noted that the cell promised “huge improvements in power density, charging speed, and safety.”

But now he appears to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The battery is claimed to use existing lithium-ion technology, not sodium-ion solid-state chemistry, according to new reports yet Investigation by battery researcher Ryan Ennis-Hughesknown for his YouTube channel Ziroth.

Hughes, along with a team of more than 20 specialists, provided electrochemical evidence, including voltage curves and cell expansion data, that conclusively determined that the battery was lithium-ion. In his country YouTube videoHughes interviewed a battery industry executive who had dealings with companies developing the technology that Donut Lab was promising. Hughes also consulted with battery experts on the company’s claims, such as the Donut battery’s claimed energy density of 400 watt-hours per kilogram — a major accomplishment for batteries — and its 100,000-cycle lifespan.

A Donut Lab representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Doubt and investigation

New research by Hughes confirms doubts raised by media outlets covering the electric vehicle and battery industries, including Electrek, which I published an article in mid-April About a whistleblower who came forward to say the Donut Lab product was a scam. Electrek also interviewed Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehmäki in January, Pointing out the title That the company’s leader will either prove a world-changer or a fool within months.

Fred Lambert, editor-in-chief of Electrek, Now Note that the site “I called this out early,” he said, adding that the investigation uncovers obvious lies about the battery’s manufacturing and shipping. According to Lampert, Donut Lab also deceived investors by inflating its valuation. “The company has raised nearly $25 million from more than 1,300 mostly small investors based on claims that now appear false,” he wrote.

A closer look at Donut Lab draws comparisons with The Theranos sagawhen founder Elizabeth Holmes falsified information about her blood testing startup. She was eventually sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Ports like Electric They came out in support of the Hughes investigation. Edge and Automatic development It has also been published about the results of the investigation.

Solid state versus lithium ion

The solid-state battery, Donut Lab promises, would solve many of the problems associated with lithium-ion batteries. Firstly, it will not be subject to overheating and fire hazards because it will not use flammable materials. With denser technology, the hope was that a solid-state battery platform could lead to faster charging speeds, longer battery life, and increased electric vehicle range.

Companies including Toyota is actively working on this technologybut no major manufacturer has announced anything ready for production as Donut Lab has.