The Verge TS Pro electric motorcycle made a significant splash at CES 2026, debuting with what is claimed to be the world's first true solid-state battery in a road-legal production electric vehicle. Developed by Donut Lab, this innovative battery pack offers remarkable specifications without an increase in the bike's price compared to previous models equipped with traditional lithium-ion batteries. Instead, it significantly boosts charging performance and overall efficiency.

Key highlights of the Donut Lab solid-state battery pack include a cell-level energy density of 400 watt-hours-per-kilogram. When equipped with a 33.3 kWh pack, the Verge TS Pro boasts an impressive range of up to 370 miles. Furthermore, it supports 200kW fast charging, allowing the battery to reach 80 percent capacity in just 10 minutes. The motorcycle's performance is equally compelling, driven by the unique hub-less Donut motor, which generates an immense 737 lb-ft of torque. This power enables the 518-pound bike to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds. A notable advantage is the claimed lower production cost of this solid-state technology, which allows it to be sold at the same price as its conventional lithium-ion counterparts.

A deeper dive into the "real solid-state" claims reveals a degree of proprietary secrecy from Donut Lab. While no third party has yet independently verified the internal structure, Donut Lab asserts that its electrolyte is dry and composed entirely of abundant, affordable, and geopolitically safe materials, deliberately avoiding rare or sensitive elements. This is also said to result in a lower cost than traditional lithium-ion. However, these claims present apparent contradictions, as materials typically associated with "abundant/conflict-free" (like lithium-iron-phosphate cathodes and graphite or hard-carbon anodes) have not historically achieved 400 Wh/kg energy density. Lithium-metal anodes could deliver the energy density but conflict with the affordability and abundance assertions. Silicon-rich anodes, while cutting price, involve significant expansion and contraction during lithiation, which seemed unaccommodated by the tight packaging of the displayed 5kWh module (where energy density drops to 350 Wh/kg).

True dry solid-state batteries often utilize exotic ceramic electrolytes, which conflict with the affordability claim. A quasi-solid polymer matrix, possibly enhanced with ceramic fillers to boost conductivity, aligns better with the affordability scenario. With an announced production capacity of 1 GWh/year, it is further anticipated that a polymer- or polymer-composite-based electrolyte is being used, as such materials can be manufactured on existing roll-to-roll equipment without requiring the extremely dry environments or high temperatures and pressures associated with sulfide-based electrolytes or ceramic sintering.

The battery cells themselves are produced as 125Wh prismatic type pouches, featuring power tabs along the short side. While Donut Lab showcased a 5kWh module, representatives from Verge indicated that this specific configuration might not be how the 20.2- and 33.3-kWh energy packs are ultimately stored within the motorcycle.

The innovative Donut motor design contributes significantly to its high torque density. It employs an inverted configuration, positioning the stator inboard and the rotor outboard. This design provides the active rare-earth magnets with considerably greater torque-arm leverage. In motorcycle applications, this allows the swing arm to connect directly to the stator. For automotive applications, where suspension designs typically connect to the wheel's center, a plate bolted to the outer rotor facilitates the mounting of a conventional wheel.

Donut Lab also displayed a range of modular motors, varying in size, power, and torque. These included a 12-inch version with 4-30 kW (5-40 hp) and 59-258 lb-ft of torque, and a 17-inch version offering 55-150 kW (74-201 hp) and 553-885 lb-ft of torque. Both open hub and enclosed forms were presented. The 17-inch open hub motor used in the 3.5-second 0-60 mph Verge TS Pro bike generates 137 hp. To put the staggering 737 lb-ft of torque into perspective, a combustion-powered motorcycle with similar performance would typically have about 13:1 torque multiplication from its crank to the wheel, meaning the Donut motor's output is roughly equivalent to 57 lb-ft of crank torque in a conventional engine.

The Verge TS Pro is available for order in several trims. The standard-range model features a 20.2 kWh battery pack, 100kW charging, and a 217-mile range, priced at $30,000. This price point and range are consistent with what Verge offered with its traditional lithium-ion pack of equivalent size. The long-range model is equipped with a 33.3-kWh pack, 200kW charging, and a 370-mile range, costing $34,900 (excluding destination charges which vary). Both models incorporate NACS charging technology and can add 186 miles of range in just 10 minutes. A more premium TS Ultra model, priced at $44,900, is anticipated to follow soon. This top-tier variant will combine the larger battery with Donut Lab's highest-spec 17-inch motor, delivering 201 hp and 885 lb-ft of torque, projected to shave a full second off the 0-to-60 mph acceleration time. The TS Ultra will also feature a more comfortable single seat and advanced driver assist/warning systems, utilizing six cameras plus front- and rear-facing radar.