Solid-State Batteries: Myth, Marketing — or a Real Breakthrough?
The electric vehicle industry loves big promises. Few buzzwords have been abused more than “solid-state battery.” For years, it has been the EV world’s equivalent of a unicorn: endlessly teased, rarely seen, and never delivered at scale.
That’s why the latest announcement from Verge Motorcycles landed like a thunderclap.
The Finnish brand — famous for its futuristic, hubless-wheel motorcycles — claims it has done what giants like Toyota and Volkswagen are still working toward: launching a production electric motorcycle powered by a solid-state battery.
If true, this would be a historic first.
Verge Motorcycles: The Company That Rewrote the Rear Wheel
Verge is not a conventional motorcycle manufacturer. It is the company that looked at a rear wheel and decided that hubs, spokes, and conventional logic were optional.
Its signature technology is the Donut motor — a hubless rear wheel where the electric motor is integrated directly into the rim. The result is a striking design that looks like it escaped from a sci-fi film set and accidentally landed on public roads.
Now, Verge claims the biggest innovation isn’t the wheel — but what powers it.
The Big Claim: The World’s First Solid-State Battery Motorcycle
According to Verge, the updated TS Pro is the world’s first production motorcycle equipped with a solid-state battery.
Instead of a liquid electrolyte (used in conventional lithium-ion cells), Verge’s battery uses a solid electrolyte, developed in partnership with Donut Lab, a technology firm founded by the same team behind Verge.
Why Solid-State Batteries Matter
| Advantage | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|
| Higher energy density | Longer range without larger batteries |
| Improved safety | Near-zero risk of thermal runaway |
| Faster charging | High power input without overheating |
| Better temperature stability | More consistent performance |
This is why solid-state batteries are widely considered the “holy grail” of electric mobility.
Verge TS Pro: Claimed Specifications That Raise Eyebrows
This is where the announcement becomes truly provocative. Verge’s claimed figures would place the TS Pro in a league of its own.
Verge TS Pro (Solid-State) – Claimed Specs
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Claimed range | Up to 370 miles (≈595 km) |
| Fast charge gain | 186 miles in 10 minutes |
| Torque | 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) |
| 0–62 mph | 3.5 seconds |
| Rear motor | Hubless “Donut” motor |
| Battery type | Solid-state |
| Availability | Early 2026 (claimed) |
| Price (est.) | $29,900–$35,000 |
A 370-mile range would be nearly double what most current electric motorcycles can achieve in real-world riding — effectively eliminating range anxiety.
Power Without Compromise
High efficiency often comes at the cost of performance. Verge says that’s not the case here.
The TS Pro retains its 737 lb-ft of torque, delivered instantly through the rear wheel. While 0–62 mph in 3.5 seconds won’t dethrone hypersport superbikes, it is more than fast enough to feel genuinely aggressive — and borderline irresponsible — in urban riding.
The updated Donut motor is also claimed to be 50% lighter than before, reducing unsprung mass and potentially transforming handling, which earlier Verge models were known to prioritize stability over agility.
Safety: A Key Solid-State Advantage
Electric motorcycle fires are rare, but when they happen, they tend to be dramatic.
Verge claims that its solid-state battery architecture virtually eliminates the risk of thermal runaway, one of the most serious concerns with liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries.
For riders, this is more than a spec-sheet win — it’s peace of mind, especially when sitting inches above a high-energy battery pack.
Skepticism Is Justified — and Necessary
Here’s the reality check.
Major players like:
-
Toyota
-
Volkswagen
-
QuantumScape
-
Ducati
have been teasing solid-state battery timelines for years, often pushing commercialization to 2028–2030 or beyond.
For a relatively small Finnish motorcycle startup to leapfrog the global automotive industry would be extraordinary.
The CTO of Donut Lab, Ville Piippo, insists this is not a concept, not a prototype, and not a future promise — but a production-ready solution.
History suggests caution.
Pricing and Positioning: Innovation Comes at a Cost
The Verge TS Pro already starts around $29,900. The rumored solid-state “Large Battery” version could push pricing close to $35,000.
That places the bike firmly in:
-
Premium motorcycle territory
-
Entry-level luxury car pricing
This is not mass-market technology — at least not yet.
What This Could Mean for the Industry
If Verge delivers on even 70% of its claims, the implications are enormous:
-
Electric motorcycles become viable for long-distance touring
-
Fast charging removes the final usability barrier
-
Solid-state batteries leap from labs to roads years ahead of schedule
If the claims fall apart under real-world testing, Verge risks becoming another cautionary tale of overpromised EV tech.
Final Verdict: Revolutionary — If It’s Real
The Verge TS Pro with a solid-state battery sounds too good to be true.
But so did:
-
The internet
-
Smartphones
-
Electric cars beating supercars off the line
Until riders are logging 300+ mile days without tow trucks or disclaimers, skepticism is healthy.
Still, if a group of Finns really did reinvent both the wheel and the battery, the rest of the industry may be about to look very, very slow.
Verge Motorcycles claims a major breakthrough with the TS Pro — the world’s first production electric motorcycle powered by a solid-state battery. With a claimed 370-mile range, 10-minute fast charging, and a hubless Donut motor producing massive torque, the Finnish startup may have leapfrogged the global EV industry. If real-world performance matches the promises, this could mark a defining moment for electric motorcycles.
