Game Changer!
Yes, EVs are the future but they do have their drawbacks. Because they rely on on lithium-ion battery packs, electric vehicles and bikes can have range issues and be sensitive to temperature and flammability. Plus, materials like lithium can be rare and costly in the long run!
Enter Verge Motorcycles, specifically their spinoff Donut Lab. Two years ago they announced they were working on a solid-state EV battery that could change everything! Forward to January this year and they announced they’ve beat everyone to market with a production model rolling out soon!
The core idea behind the solid-state battery is that if you swap the liquid or gel in standard lithium-ion cells for a solid material, you get something safer, with more energy, and longer-lasting! Big hitters like Toyota and Samsung have been chasing solid-state development too, without a production vehicle to show for it though!
Verge built the TS Pro around one central idea: what if an electric motorcycle was designed aesthetically for electricity? The motor sits where the rear axle would be, freeing up room for a larger battery. There is also the hubless rear wheel in-wheel motor, a chainless drivetrain, lower centre of gravity, and 120 less parts than a standard setup!
The battery is rated at 400 Wh/kg of energy density, operates between -30°C to 100°C without effecting performance or health, and is built from abundant materials rather than rare ones. The team at Verge/Donut claim a full charge in five minutes. Industry experts are skeptical but the proof will be seen once production models roll out!
The battery isn’t the only upgrade, the new Donut Motor 2.0 is 50% lighter than the previous gen while delivering 100 kW peak power and 737 lb-ft of torque through the hubless rear wheel! The result is a 0-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h!
On-board, Verge’s Starmatter HMI brings everything together with four ride modes (Range, Zen, Beast, and Custom), plus anytime update capability!
The Standard kit includes Brembo brakes and Ohlins/Wilbers suspension, and starts at approx $40,000 for the standard battery configuration, with the extended-range pack yours for approx $48,000. Deliveries are expected at the end of the year, when we will all witness these revolutionary rides on the streets!
