There are more solutions than obstacles. Nicolas Zart
At CES 2026, Finnish startup Donut Lab grabbed headlines with its all-solid-state battery: 400 Wh/kg energy density, five-minute full charges, up to 100,000 cycles, and superior safety via solid electrolyte that resists thermal runaway even at extremes like -30°C or over 100°C. Already powering Verge Motorcycles’ TS Pro in production, the tech uses abundant materials for costs below lithium-ion. Solid-state has teed up “two years away” promises for years, so independent validation remains key.
Why Boats Gain More Than Cars
Boats amplify battery gains due to harsh physics: drag scales with displacement cubed, so mass hits harder than in road EVs from Donutlab.
- Weight Equals Performance: At 400 Wh/kg (cell-level now, pack TBD), Donut enables lighter hulls for planing boats—lower planing thresholds, higher top speeds, sustained tow runtime without bulk. Tesla’s 4680 hits ~240 Wh/kg; this doubles it for marine range without heavier builds.bgr+1
- Charging Meets Marina Reality: Five minutes demands megawatt chargers, rare at docks (most pedestals top 50 kW). Upside: rapid top-ups at high-power spots, less degradation from opportunity charges, and confidence for short stops.
- Cycles Unlock Fleets: 100,000 cycles suit rentals, taxis, patrols—slashing “battery replacement” costs versus lithium-ion’s ~5,000. Weekend boats barely notice, but operators rewrite economics.
Hurdles to Marine Reality
Skeptics need:
- Independent tests (charge curves, cycles, cold performance) from labs like those validating supercapacitors at 414 Wh/kg/100k cycles.
- Pack-level specs, manufacturing scale (Finland GWh pilot in 2026), marine hardening (IP67+, corrosion).
If proven, Donut redefines e-boats: featherweight day-boats, viable fleets. If not, marine pushes incremental wins like better packs. Read more on ElectricAirMobility.news CES coverage or eBoat archives.
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