j_iliz
2 days ago
QuantumScape Releases Next-Generation Solid-State Battery Separator Equipment, Cobra
December 5, 2024
Achieving this final key goal of 2024 enables the companyโs higher-volume sample production in 2025SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE: QS), a leader in solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, today announced that next-generation heat treatment equipment for its separator production process, Cobra, has been developed, delivered, installed and released for initial separator processing. Achieving this milestone on schedule puts the company on track to deliver higher-volume samples of its first planned commercial product, QSE-5, in 2025, and is a major step toward the commercialization of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles.Cobra represents a significant innovation in ceramic solid-state separator production, benefiting both scalability and cost efficiency. This milestone is the culmination of years of advanced R&D on QuantumScapeโs fast separator production process โ the core innovation that will allow its battery technology to be manufactured at gigawatt-hour scale. The company is targeting Cobra integration into its cell production baseline in 2025.โCobra is a true breakthrough in ceramics manufacturing, and it will pave the way for the scale up of our battery technology,โ said Tim Holme, co-founder and CTO of QuantumScape. โIโm delighted with how the team has overcome challenges and kept the process roll-out on track this year.โโWe set challenging and ambitious goals at the beginning of the year, and it required a focused team effort to achieve all of them,โ said Dr. Siva Sivaram, CEO and president of QuantumScape. โThere is a lot of work ahead of us, and with our track record of consistent execution and delivery on our milestones, I fully expect the team to continue building momentum toward gigawatt-hour scale up of our technology.โThe company established four annual goals at the beginning of 2024, all focused on integrating the improvements demonstrated at the component level in 2023 into the QSE-5. With the achievement of this milestone, the company has now fulfilled all four of its key annual objectives for 2024.Prepare for Cobra production in 2025 . With todayโs announcement, QuantumScape has taken delivery, installed and released for initial separator processing key equipment for its advanced separator manufacturing process, Cobra.Begin low-volume QSE-5 prototype production . In October, QuantumScape announced it had started producing and shipping the first low-volume B samples battery cells for automotive customer testing. The QSE-5 B sample features energy density of 844 Wh/L and is able to fast charge from 10% to 80% in 12.2 minutes.Ramp Raptor process . Raptor, the first stage of QuantumScapeโs fast separator production process, entered the companyโs baseline process in the third quarter of 2024. These films are used in the low-volume QSE-5 B samples.Ship Alpha-2 samples . Earlier in the year, the company announced it started shipping Alpha-2 samples to customers. These cells were precursors to the B samples.About QuantumScape CorporationQuantumScape is on a mission to revolutionize energy storage to enable a sustainable future. The companyโs next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology is designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging and enhanced safety to support the transition away from legacy energy sources toward a lower carbon future. For more information, visit www.quantumscape.com.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain information in this press release may be considered โforward-looking statements,โ within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding QuantumScapeโs plans and objectives for future operations and growth, including the production and timing of higher-volume battery samples, the performance and integration of the new production equipment, the performance and scale up of its technology and its applications, and the potential impacts of QuantumScapeโs technology, among others. These forward-looking statements are based on QuantumScape managementโs current expectations, assumptions, hopes, beliefs, intentions and strategies regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including due to the building out of high volume processes and otherwise to achieve scale, the achievement of the quality, consistency, reliability, safety, cost and throughput required for commercial production and sale, changes in economic and financial conditions, and other factors, including those discussed in the section titled โRisk Factorsโ in QuantumScapeโs Annual Report and Quarterly Reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements.https://ir.quantumscape.com/resources/press-releases/news-details/2024/QuantumScape-Releases-Next-Generation-Solid-State-Battery-Separator-Equipment-Cobra/default.aspx
solong
4 weeks ago
A couple of notes regarding the future:
1) All 3 majors in the US, (Stellantis - GM/GMC - Ford/Lincoln) - have already spent billions in development and retooling of factories, that are only recoverable if they sell EVs or EV/Gas Hybrids. Q3 of 2024 saw EV ownership at 8.9% of the market. This percentage has been on a steady upward trend.
2) Mercedes, BMW, Audi (VW group) and Stellantis (owners of Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram) have all made commitments and allocated the funding for a transition. At this point it would appear we'll see a lot of hybrids first followed by all-electric cars.
3) Toyota has announced that every model they make will have a hybrid option (small gas engine with a battery. No later than 2025.
4) Ram just recently announced they will have their first hybrid truck (1500 REV) which will have a 6 cylinder gas engine acting as a generator to keep the battery charged. They said the range will be at least 500 miles.
The point is that all of these companies are already in the process of retooling manufacturing lines and will probably NOT throw out that investment so that they can retool for gas engines. Add to that, expect Elon to bend Trumps ear on this issue.
The two big reasons most often expressed, as to why Americans don't want to buy an EV are the following: 1) lack of charging stations (think gas stations for EVs) and 2) Range anxiety.
Several recent events might change that. A) Private companies have announced, this year, several hundreds of millions in private investments to build out the infrastructure (just in the US), B) the current administration announced (last January) $623mil in grants to build out the US charging charging infrastructure. C) Ford announced this year their BlueOval SK (Korean company) Battery Park in Kentucky. At 3.9 million sq/ft it will be the largest battery facility in the world. Construction has already begun.
I assume everyone already knows the benefits of Solid State batteries, one of which will address the range issue. I expect to see them in the 2027 model year. I know everyone, including QS seems to think it will be earlier but I prefer to lower my expectations and then hope I am wrong.
I think the "new" administration will be big on talk (like when they promised to replace the existing healthcare system with a new improved one) Trump then had to admit that "no one knew how difficult it would be to replace the current system." And subsequently did nothing.
He might be able to slow it down but he has two people on his team, Elon and RFK Jf who believe in Global Warming. He'll find a way to say he forced everyone to build Hybrids and then move onto some other social issue. IMO
solong
1 month ago
I've been watching this one for 2 years now - one thing that might be of some concern is selling by Insiders. Take Jadgeep Singh sales for the last 90 days:
Date ------ - # sold ------ proceeds
08/19/2024 94,445 - $ 545,542.65
08/20/2024 - 47,076 - $ 269,467.73
09/17/2024 - 192,270 - $1,150,908.99
09/17/2024 - 57,690 - $ 345,326.57
10/07/2024 - 192,270 - $1,063,753.00
11/13/2024 - 70 912 - $ 357,899.96
11/14/2024 - 5,531 - $ 27,702.01
This doesn't necessarily mean one shouldn't buy it on the dips and it's certainly getting to a place, under $5, where it's been safe to buy.
Barchart is showing that there are 10 analyst who follow the company and here's the breakdown on how theiy currently view QS:
1 - strong buy
6 - hold
1 - moderate sell
2 - strong sell
https://www.barchart.com/stocks/quotes/QS/analyst-ratings
I'm waiting to see more progress towards production / sales - they have come a long way over the last couple of years. GL!