Ziroth Investigation Disputes Donut Lab’s Solid-State Battery Claims, Concluding Cells Match Standard Lithium-Ion Design
A 45-minute video by Ryan Inis Hughes concludes that Donut Lab’s claimed solid-state battery is a conventional lithium-ion cell. The analysis drew on tests from more than 20 experts and a whistleblower from Nordic Nano Group.
theverge.comRyan Inis Hughes published a 45-minute investigation on his Ziroth YouTube channel that concludes Donut Lab’s battery is a standard lithium-ion cell rather than the solid-state design the company advertised. Hughes stated that Donut Lab engaged in deliberate, calculated deception by claiming a solid-state battery ready for mass production.
He said the product is nothing more than a conventional lithium-ion design.
Lauri Peltola, former Chief Commercial Officer of Nordic Nano Group, served as a whistleblower for the investigation. Nordic Nano Group was the company listed as Donut Lab’s manufacturing partner. Hughes consulted more than 20 independent battery experts.
Julian Zahnow of the Fraunhofer Research Institute examined voltage curves, cell expansion data, and electrochemical signatures, finding that the battery performed identically to a standard lithium-ion NMC cell. Hughes reported that Donut Lab’s CEO Marko Lehtimäki paid Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre to conduct selected tests.
VTT Technical Research Centre did not directly address Donut Lab’s claims of 400Wh/kg energy density and 100,000-cycle life.
Hughes also examined a network of shell companies linked to Lehtimäki and reviewed the CEO’s financial dealings and fundraising methods. The Verge reported the investigation and noted that what happens next for Lehtimäki, Donut Lab, and its retail investors remains unclear.
