IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Donut Lab’s all-solid-state battery delivers 400 Wh/kg of energy density

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Skepticism Toward Hype and Legitimacy

Widespread doubt due to the company's sudden emergence, lack of patents, manufacturing details, or independent verification, often labeled vaporware or scam.
"I'm very skeptical of any company that just 'pops up' and makes a bunch of claims that will shake up the industry." - tedk-42
"Totally legit." (sarcastic) - cyberax
"Way too good to be true." - greenavocado

2. Calls for Independent Verification

Users urge physical inspections, teardowns, tests, or awaiting deliveries/reviews/CES demo for proof.
"Someone in Silicon Valley should stop by... and take a picture." - Animats
"Not even a teardown. Just a few charge + discharge cycles, measuring the energy." - nine_k
"I will wait until the reviews and 3rd party lab tests come out before getting excited." - givemeethekeys

3. Optimism If Proven True

Excitement over potential breakthrough in energy density, fast charging, and cycles, likening to Li-ion history, with big market impact.
"Definitely a 'huge if true' headline... Fingers crossed this is true." - NullHypothesist
"This is damn impressive." - nine_k
"Basically a magic battery that is better on every possible metric. This could be world changing." - bawolff

🚀 Project Ideas

EV Due Diligence & Testing Service

Summary

  • A specialized technical auditing and testing service for high-claim EV start-ups and battery technologies.
  • Solves the problem of "vaporware" skepticism and marketing hyperbole (e.g., Donut Lab/Verge claims) by providing independent, transparent verification of range, charge cycles, and chemistry.
  • Value Prop: Providing "ground truth" for investors, journalists, and high-net-worth early adopters.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Institutional Investors, EV Journalists, Pre-order holders
Core Feature Standardized "Stress Test" (Charge/Discharge cycles, X-ray scanning, weight/density verification)
Tech Stack Python (Data logging), Industrial X-ray/CT hardware, High-precision load banks
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: $10k - $50k per audit/report

Notes

  • Directly addresses user nine_k's point: "Not even a teardown. Just a few charge + discharge cycles, measuring the energy."
  • HN commenters are hungry for verification: "Take a picture... uninstall the battery, weigh it, and run a capacity test" (throwaway81523).

Modular Structural Battery Design Kit (MSBD)

Summary

  • A CAD and engineering toolkit for integrating solid-state batteries into vehicle chassis as "stressed members."
  • Solves the engineering hurdle of moving from "battery in a box" to "battery as the frame" to maximize energy density and weight savings.
  • Value Prop: Enables "Clay-like design freedom" by providing simulation tools for thermal and structural load distribution in non-traditional battery shapes.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Drone manufacturers, EV boutique shops, Aerospace startups
Core Feature Structural/Thermal FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for non-rectangular battery geometries
Tech Stack C++ (Simulation engine), WebAssembly (Browser-based CAD viewer), Rust
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: $500/mo SaaS or Enterprise Licensing

Notes

  • Inspired by the debate over "clay-like design freedom" and whether the frame can be the battery (_carbyau_, jjcm).
  • Addresses the skepticism of calmbonsai regarding "stressed members" by providing the necessary engineering rigor for such designs.

Hyper-Local "Fast-Charge" Infrastructure Map

Summary

  • A crowdsourced mapping and status tool specifically for "Megawatt" and ultra-fast chargers (350kW+), focusing on non-highway/metro-fringe locations (Midwest/Rural).
  • Solves "range anxiety" and "infrastructure invisibility" for owners of high-performance EVs and motorcycles who need specialized high-output chargers.
  • Value Prop: High-fidelity data on charger output real-time performance, water-cooling status, and local amenities for 5-minute stops.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Early adopters of high-end EVs (Verge, Porsche, Tesla)
Core Feature Verified Real-world Wattage (Real-time C-rating reporting)
Tech Stack React Native, Go (Backend), OpenStreetMap API
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby (Ad-supported or data-licensing to OEMs)

Notes

  • Directly addresses the "Midwest Range Anxiety" thread started by ninkendo: "I know they exist because I can search for them... but I have literally never seen a public charging station."
  • Focuses on the "5-minute charge" reality mentioned by cloudfudge and notjes, identifying where the grid actually supports such speeds.

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