Is Donut Lab’s power pack a battery or capacitor — Part II

Battery or capacitor

Only a few hours after yesterday’s post asking whether Donut Lab‘s power pack was a battery or capacitor, I was sent a link from Miss GoElectric that features a “solid” breakdown of the company’s technology and where it might have originated.

The word “might” is important because, while there are traceable links between the players involved, the company and/or companies are being very tight lipped and the video points out that they are speculating.

Regardless, while Miss GoElectric spends some time disclaiming she and her compatriots lack of expertise, they did a great job investigating.

By all means watch the video for details, but in the interim, I will do what I can to summarize the conclusions. I will also note that, while I familiarity with the material science, the screen printing technology, and EV technology, I too lack the full qualifications needed to pass a final judgement.

Donut Lab

Donut Lab builds hubless, direct drive electric motors, used by Verge Motorcycles noted in yesterday’s post.

The company acquired Helsinki-based Nordic Nano, which offers nanotechnology solutions for solar energy harvesting, energy storage and hydrogen applications.

Nordic Nano

Nordic Nano had only been formed as a company in 2024 after getting funding to commercialize technology developed by faculty at the University of Eastern Finland, now transferred to Donut Lab.

The writers then found a connection to Chief Scientist Bela Bhuskute from Tempere University with peer-reviewed and published expertise in titanium dioxide photocatalysts and atomic layer deposition, which plays a big role in the “battery’s” construction.

Oura Health

Then, when speculating on the cost to get manufacturing up and running, they find investments from billionaire Petteri Lahtela, the CEO of Oura Health. That company, known primarily for the Oura Ring, is also a Finnish technology company, with designs on wearable health products. This fits the claim that the batteries can be made into any shape desired, including wearables.

Battery or capacitor

Then we end up right back into a very well done battery vs capacitor discussion. Admittedly, much of the technical details are beyond our understanding, but it seems to come down to the use of salts and carbon nanotubes to reduce the size expected from what may, in fact, be a capacitor or supercapacitor!

But again, who cares? If Donut Lab has managed to build a capacitor that manages to control discharge like a battery, creating that steady, long-term power with high energy density, then they have solved the solid-state battery problem that the EV industry has been chasing for decades.

Final thoughts

I’ll leave you with two thoughts. The first is one Miss GoElectric leaves with, which is the speculation that special interests with huge investments into current lithium ion technology could buy and bury the technology, in much the same way that oil interests buried battery and trolly tech in the early part of the 20th century.

The final one is mine: contemplate the hubless electric motor from Donut Lab on the motorcycle from Verge (right), and the big hole in the rear drive wheel! If I were a motorcycle guy, this would be massively interesting.

Ah hell, its interesting anyway!!

——————————————————————-

The material on these pages is provided for information sharing purposes only and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business, nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Remember — only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Privacy Policy