QuantumScape Q3 2021 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
QuantumScape reported on its progress in Q3 2021, highlighting the validation of its single-layer cells by a third-party lab, an agreement with a new top-10 global automotive OEM, and advancements in cell development and manufacturing progress. The company ended the quarter with over $1.5 billion in liquidity and reiterated its guidance for 2021.
Third-party testing replicated impressive performance of single-layer cells, with over 800 cycles at 25°C and 1C charge/discharge rates.
A new agreement was established with a top-10 global automotive OEM for battery evaluation and potential inclusion in pre-series and series production vehicles.
Four-layer cells demonstrated one-hour charge and discharge cycling with cycle life exceeding 80% after 800 cycles.
The company ended Q3 with over $1.5B in liquidity and is focused on achieving its 10-layer cell goal and delivering prototype samples in 2022.
QuantumScape
QuantumScape
Forward Guidance
QuantumScape is prioritizing investments to support key milestones, focusing on achieving its 10-layer cell goal and delivering prototype samples to automotive OEMs in 2022, while targeting commercial production in 2024-2025.
Positive Outlook
- Completing three out of four key 2021 milestones.
- Focusing on achieving 10-layer cell goal.
- Delivering prototype samples in commercially relevant form factors to automotive OEMs from engineering lines in 2022.
- Targeting providing cells for R&D test cars from QS-0 in 2023.
- Entering commercial production in the 2024–2025 timeframe.
Challenges Ahead
- Significant barriers in attempts to produce a solid-state battery cell and may not be able to successfully develop its solid-state battery cell.
- Building high volumes of multilayer cells in commercially relevant area and with higher layer count requires substantial development effort.
- Could encounter significant delays and/or technical challenges in replicating the performance seen in its single-layer and four-layer cells and early tests of its ten-layer cells and in achieving the high quality, consistency and throughput required for commercial production and sale.
- May encounter delays in hiring the engineers it needs to expand its development and production efforts, delays in building out QS-0, and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- May be unable to adequately control the costs associated with its operations and the components necessary to build its solid-state battery cells at competitive prices.