Solid-state battery developer QuantumScape (QS.N) has integrated its proprietary “Cobra” separator manufacturing process into baseline production, marking a major advancement in its efforts to scale up commercial battery production for electric vehicles.
The “Cobra” process is designed to streamline the production of QuantumScape’s solid-state ceramic separators—key components that enable the company’s lithium-metal batteries to deliver improved energy density, charging speed, safety, and lifespan over traditional lithium-ion technology. According to the company, Cobra significantly reduces both the footprint and processing time of separator manufacturing, supporting mass production at gigawatt-hour scale.
“This innovation is expected to support higher-volume B1 sample production and provides a core manufacturing advantage,” the company stated in an update, adding that Cobra integration fulfills a critical 2025 production goal ahead of schedule.
Cobra builds upon the previously implemented “Raptor” system, which introduced continuous flow heat treatment to the separator process. While Raptor optimized energy efficiency, Cobra further accelerates ceramic processing speeds, which QuantumScape says is vital for eventual commercial deployment.
The separator is central to QuantumScape’s solid-state cell design. Unlike conventional lithium-ion cells that use a liquid electrolyte, QuantumScape’s technology incorporates a proprietary solid-state ceramic layer that suppresses dendrite formation and supports the use of lithium-metal anodes. The result is a battery that could achieve significantly higher energy densities without sacrificing safety or longevity.
In 2023, QuantumScape began pilot production using Cobra on its QS-0 line for B-sample cells. With full integration now confirmed, the company is positioned to expand capacity and begin B1 sample production while further validating the technology with partners like Volkswagen Group, which has a licensing agreement for QuantumScape’s manufacturing model.
Industry analysts view the move as a critical development in the race to commercialize solid-state batteries. While several companies have demonstrated working cells, no firm has yet achieved high-volume production.
QuantumScape says the Cobra process is also well-suited to support international licensing and contract manufacturing, allowing IP transfer to bypass physical exports amid rising global trade tensions.