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QuantumScape Now Has Six Automakers in Its Sampling Agreements List

QuantumScape may have suffered a blow recently after it lost its chief manufacturing officer, Celina Mikolajczak. In its Q2 2022 Shareholder Letter, the company did not even touch on the subject. Instead, it announced two significant achievements: two more automakers in its sampling agreements list and 24-layer cells.
QuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022: a 24-layer solid-state cell and two new carmakers as customers 7 photos
Photo: QuantumScape
QuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022: a 24-layer solid-state cell and two new carmakers as customersQuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022: a 24-layer solid-state cell and two new carmakers as customersQuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022: a 24-layer solid-state cell and two new carmakers as customersQuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022: a 24-layer solid-state cell and two new carmakers as customersQuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022: a 24-layer solid-state cell and two new carmakers as customersQuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022: a 24-layer solid-state cell and two new carmakers as customers
The first announcement means that QuantumScape now has six car companies interested in its solid-state cells. The battery startup said they range “from global top-10 manufacturers by revenue to premium performance and luxury automakers, encompassing both pure EV and conventional OEMs.” Some of these tips are new.

When we had only four automakers willing to evaluate QuantumScape’s samples, the company said three of them were among the top 10 automakers by revenue. We know Volkswagen is one of them because the German carmaker is an early investor in the battery startup. It is also very likely to be the first one to present a vehicle with QuantumScape’s solid-state cells.

The other one was with a global luxury automaker. The two new customers did not deserve a specific description, but we can work by elimination. Of these six car companies, three are legacy automakers making the most money in the industry, and one is a luxury carmaker. QuantumScape now mentions a “premium performance” brand and a “pure EV” original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

QuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022\: a 24\-layer solid\-state cell and two new carmakers as customers
Photo: QuantumScape
The Volkswagen Group has its fair share of premium performance brands, such as Porsche and Lamborghini, but they should be included in the list simply by Volkswagen’s involvement with QuantumScape. It may be the case that these brands have some independence and can decide if they will check these solid-state cells or not. Porsche would be our main bet.

Rimac could also fit the bill: it does not belong to Volkswagen, but it is now closely related to it after the deal that put Bugatti under its supervision. The fact that it only makes electric cars includes it in the definition of a “pure EV” carmaker. We doubt Tesla is involved, so the only options left would be Chinese companies or Polestar, but the Swedish premium brand started its career with a plug-in hybrid.

Regarding the 24-layer solid-state batteries, they are crucial for QuantumScape because they “represent A-sample candidates for some automotive OEMs.” As the battery startup said it wanted to ship A-samples in 2022, these new cells mean it accomplished that goal or is pretty close to getting there on time.

QuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022\: a 24\-layer solid\-state cell and two new carmakers as customers
Photo: QuantumScape
QuantumScape said that it found some challenges in its production processes. They ranged from the “discovery of a contaminant in our material to identifying defects introduced during the production process.” The startup said it solved some of these issues and is still working to fix others.

One of the major achievements QuantumScape had was with its catholyte. While regular batteries need the electrolyte to connect the cathode and the anode, the QuantumScape solid-state cells need the catholyte to make ions travel from the ceramic separator to the cathode.

The fact that the catholyte does not have to interact with the anode allows the startup to use “materials that are incompatible with other systems.” QuantumScape is now in the second generation of its catholyte. The startup is also proud to achieve more uniformity in producing its ceramic separator, which is the company’s secret sauce.

QuantumScape discloses two significant achievements on Q2 2022\: a 24\-layer solid\-state cell and two new carmakers as customers
Photo: QuantumScape
What QuantumScape’s competitors are paying more attention to is the manufacturing process, something the company has never talked about in detail. That changed a bit: the startup said producing its cells “has many similarities to conventional lithium-ion cell manufacturing.” The proprietary part of this process ”can broadly be grouped into two main tasks: separator production and cell assembly.”

The company’s Phase 1 engineering line is dedicated to improving “the quality, consistency, and throughput of our separator production.” The Phase 2 engineering line wants “to do the same for cell assembly.” QuantumScape got 5,000 weekly separator film starts this last quarter. Until the end of 2022, its goal is to reach 8,000 separator starts.
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 Download: QuantumScape's Q2 2022 Shareholder Letter (PDF)

About the author: Gustavo Henrique Ruffo
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Motoring writer since 1998, Gustavo wants to write relevant stories about cars and their shift to a sustainable future.
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