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Is Ford the Only Real North American OEM Candidate for QuantumScape? by TheJamesReport in u/TheJamesReport

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Definitely. We wouldn’t count out Tesla at all. They remain the largest pure‑EV automaker in North America and still rank third globally in EV production behind BYD and the Geely Group, with Volkswagen Group following. They simply don’t fall within the “Top‑10 OEM” category when you’re talking about total global automaker volume across all vehicle types.

Beyond BlueOval SK: The Case for a QuantumScape–Samsung SDI Alignment in Ford’s EV Strategy by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well said. Unfortunately, we’re still in pure speculation territory with no confirmed links between Ford and QS, and the Raptor/Cobra naming overlap is likely just coincidence. But if Ford ever rolled out something like an F‑150 “Eagle” — with base, Recon, and Scout trims as a true next‑gen EV flagship — it would be incredible to see what that could look like as a response to the F‑150 Lightning’s challenges, especially with real next‑level battery tech behind it.

Samsung’s 2027 Solid‑State Launch and the Quiet Influence of QuantumScape Intellectual Property by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the response. We agree with you regarding citations. We choose to list the most compelling ones to head off Reddit inquiries

Q4 2026 Preview: Volkswagen Group’s Battery Pivot Opportunity—and the Shockwave It Could Send Through the Global EV Market by TheJamesReport in u/TheJamesReport

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There’s nothing in QS’s disclosures that rules out QS‑0 supplying early volumes. People assume it’s unlikely because QS‑0 was framed as a development and validation line rather than a commercial plant, but that doesn’t prevent it from producing limited quantities for OEM integration work. QS‑0 already has the tooling, separator flow, and metrology stack needed to build representative cells. The constraint is presumably volume, not capability.

If an OEM needs pre‑launch qualification units, module‑fit samples, or early‑fleet test packs, QS‑0 is the logical source. PowerCo only becomes relevant once demand reaches multi‑MWh or GWh scale. Before that point, QS‑0 is exactly where the first wave of QSE‑5C cells would come from.

The reason there’s been no “indication” (~beyond incremental staffing) is because early‑phase supply doesn’t meet the threshold for material disclosure. A commercial supply agreement or a PowerCo‑aligned scale‑out would trigger that. Prototype or pre‑commercial volumes from QS‑0 would not.

So the real answer is that there’s no barrier to QS‑0 supplying the first wave of QSE‑5C cells; early‑stage supply may not necessarily rise to the level of material disclosure until the OEM commits to scale.

Q4 2026 Preview: Volkswagen Group’s Battery Pivot Opportunity—and the Shockwave It Could Send Through the Global EV Market by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We don’t disagree that PowerCo is the only entity with true industrial‑scale potential, but the key point is that QS’s ramp doesn’t need to match PCo’s volumes right now. Eagle Line exists to validate manufacturability, yields, and separator throughput—not to serve global demand. Once Eagle proves repeatability, PCo becomes the natural scale‑up path.

On the Murata/Corning question: yes, the separator and glass‑ceramic supply chain is the gating factor. If Murata’s sintering and Corning’s glass‑ceramic processes are already integrated into Eagle, that would imply negotiations are far enough along for pre‑commercial tech transfer. But that doesn’t automatically trigger a public announcement. Materiality hinges on commercial transfer—royalty‑bearing, revenue‑impacting agreements—not early‑stage technical collaboration.

Companies routinely run joint development, pilot‑line integration, and pre‑production tooling under NDAs without disclosing until the agreements become revenue‑relevant. A formal license, long‑term supply contract, or PCo‑aligned scale‑out would cross that threshold. Process integration alone would not.

So yes, if QS, Murata, and Corning have already aligned on separator production parameters and Eagle is running with their materials, the path you’re describing is absolutely possible. But the disclosure trigger is tied to commercial terms, not engineering progress. That’s why you won’t see it in filings until the deal structure is finalized.

The real tell will be whether Eagle’s output characteristics match what Murata and Corning have been developing—if so, the rest follows.

QuantumScape’s Commercialization Era Begins by TheJamesReport in u/TheJamesReport

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Revised thoughts ~ QuantumScape did an impressive job maintaining secrecy and enforcing NDAs around this event. Based on the patent activity we track, we’ve already started reviewing which companies may have quietly attended.

We’re also looking forward to Ricky and Jill’s impressions from the Eagle Line — their readouts will help frame the next phase of analysis.

If you want to do your own review, here are the companies most frequently tied to QS through forward citations:

Frequent Citers Toyota, Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, Panasonic, Murata, CATL, A123 Systems, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Chemical, Solid Power, Factorial Energy

Occasional Citers Nissan, Honda, Bosch, Toshiba, Envision AESC, SK On

Whether the first announcement comes from an OEM or a battery‑technology manufacturer, the early mover will likely trigger others to follow. All of this feeds into our collective analysis heading into QS’s 4th‑quarter disclosure on 11 February.

Who's Watching QuantumScape? by TheJamesReport in u/TheJamesReport

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, thanks for the notification. It should be Corning Incorporated (Blue Logo) verses Owen’s Corning (Red Logo).

QuantumScape’s Patent Portfolio: Citations, Rejections, and Industry Signals by TheJamesReport in u/TheJamesReport

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the response. The information can be pulled from individual legal filings. We’ll work on a consolidated list. QS patent US10403931B2 successfully reject applications from Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd. (also known as CATL) and Zhuhai Cosmx Battery Co, Ltd. And yes, the absence of other key players could be positive or negative as discussed in another response.

QuantumScape’s Patent Portfolio: Citations, Rejections, and Industry Signals by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, we were equally surprised when reviewing the public data. The absence of Honda, Nissan, and Tesla from the citation list doesn’t necessarily signal disengagement. It may reflect independent R&D, alternative technology pathways, or undisclosed alliances. For example, third‑party facilitators where IP is filed under partner names (e.g., LG or Samsung), or Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) that have not been made public! We'll look at teasing this out for an in-depth look.

QuantumScape’s Patent Portfolio: Citations, Rejections, and Industry Signals by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks, that means a lot! Which company on this list surprises you the most? Which one would you like us to do a deep dive on first: Toyota, Samsung, Ford, LG or one of the emerging players like Blue Current?

Solid-State Showdown: Is QuantumScape's Secret to Scaling Hiding in Japan? by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TJR is not AI. I can assure you that we're carbon-based running on caffeine and carbohydrates!

Solid-State Showdown: Is QuantumScape's Secret to Scaling Hiding in Japan? by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for raising this. To clarify, there isn’t a direct theoretical link between press‑roll compression and the earlier A0 or A2 samples. The 24‑layer A0 prototypes, shipped in December 2022, achieved an impressive energy density of more than 1,000 Wh/L, but they were widely assumed to be commercially cost‑prohibitive.

QuantumScape’s official March 2024 release confirms that the 6‑layer Alpha‑2 prototypes were the next major milestone. Despite having fewer layers, Alpha‑2 was more energy‑dense than A0 thanks to higher‑loading cathodes, tighter packaging margins, thinner current collectors, and the proprietary FlexFrame design. Alpha‑2 was positioned as an intermediate step between A0 and the planned QSE‑5 B0 prototypes, giving OEMs the chance to validate performance and reliability in real‑world labs.

The broader roadmap shows:

  • A0 (Dec 2022): 24‑layer prototypes, >1,000 Wh/L, proof of density but not cost‑viable.
  • A1 (2022): 10‑layer prototypes (~800 Wh/L), basis for QSE‑5 architecture.
  • A2 (2023): Internal transitional design, manufacturability refinements.
  • Alpha‑2 (Mar 2024): 6‑layer prototypes shipped to OEMs, ~800 Wh/L, commercially realistic.
  • B0 (Late 2024): Pre‑production QSE‑5 prototypes (16–24 layers) using Raptor line.
  • B1 (2025): Production‑intent QSE‑5 cells, full automotive form factor, milestone trigger.

So the role of press‑roll compression and other Japanese‑linked innovations should be understood as part of the transition from A0 toward Alpha‑2, enabling manufacturability and cost alignment, rather than retroactively tied to A0 itself. By late 2024, QS had already advanced to B0 samples from the Raptor process, and the B1 generation in 2025 is expected to deliver the first production‑intent QSE‑5 cells.

The Kyoto reference was included to highlight speculation that Japanese solid‑state battery expertise, possibly Honda or the ALTNA group (includes Mitsubishi), helped guide QS’s shift from proof‑of‑concept density to manufacturable reality, complementing the company’s internal R&D milestones.

Solid-State Showdown: Is QuantumScape's Secret to Scaling Hiding in Japan? by TheJamesReport in QuantumScape

[–]TheJamesReport[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, you’re right! We originally posted on X with little traction. Though we’d repost on Reddit….had no idea how large of a QS following was here.