Donut Labs’ 4.5-Minute Charge… and Ford’s $495 Frunk episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 26, 2026 · 33 MIN

Donut Labs’ 4.5-Minute Charge… and Ford’s $495 Frunk

from Kilowatt: A Podcast about Electric Vehicles · host 918Digital

Episode Description: In this episode, we break down the growing controversy around Donut Lab’s solid-state battery claims, including third-party VTT test results and the company’s response to critics questioning its bold performance numbers. We examine reports that the battery can charge to 80% in just 4.5 minutes and discuss what’s verified versus what remains unproven. Tesla is back in the headlines as it appeals a California Autopilot ruling on First Amendment grounds while also facing continued scrutiny over FSD traffic violation data requests from NHTSA. We also cover Tesla’s Cybertruck trim price increase timeline and what it signals about demand and strategy. Finally, Ford surprises customers by charging $495 for a frunk on the Mustang Mach-E — and we unpack what that says about feature monetization in the EV space. It’s a packed episode filled with battery breakthroughs, legal drama, pricing strategy, and the evolving economics of electric vehicles. Support the Show https://www.supportkilowatt.com/ Other Podcasts: Beyond the Post YouTube Beyond the Post Podcast Shuffle Playlist 918Digital Website News Links: I Donut Believe – Presenting Third Party Results VTT CR Test Report (PDF) Ford Now Charging $495 for Frunk – CleanTechnica Tesla Confirms Date When New Cybertruck Trim Will Go Up in Price – Teslarati Tesla Struggles to Turn Over FSD Traffic Violation Data – Electrek Tesla Appeals California Autopilot Ruling on First Amendment Grounds – Autoblog Donut Lab’s Solid-State Battery Gets First Test Result – The Verge Donut Labs Responds to Critics – CleanTechnica Donut Lab Battery Charges to 80% in 4.5 Minutes – Electrek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 26, 2026

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Donut Labs claims its solid-state battery can charge to 80% in just 4.5 minutes, backed by early third-party test results that are generating both excitement and skepticism. Meanwhile, Ford is drawing attention for charging $495 for a frunk, raising questions about feature monetization in the evolving EV market.

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Donut Labs’ 4.5-Minute Charge… and Ford’s $495 Frunk

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This episode was published on February 26, 2026.

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