“Fraud, He Wrote!” Whistleblower Takes On Donut Lab Battery Claims

Finland’s Donut Lab has been in the news a lot lately because of its claim to have created a working solid-state battery that is now powering a production electric motorcycle. Frankly, we here at the palatial CleanTechnica world headquarters — where we can see Paris, London, New York, and Shanghai from the infinity pool on the top floor on a clear day — are not scientists. None of us have ever invented anything — although, I did substitute avocado oil for olive oil once and that turned out OK. Our market cap is one of the lowest on record and no one from a secret government agency has ever asked us to help respond to a national emergency.

To be fair, one of our writers has been a champion for the company, and passionately defended its claims. Others of us have been quietly skeptical, while faithfully reporting the test results that Donut Lab has dribbled out over the past few months. Which brings us to this question: Is the solid-state battery from Finland real or an illusion?

A Criminal Complaint Is Filed

According to Tech Times, Lauri Peltola has filed a criminal complaint questioning the claims Donut Lab has made about its solid-state battery technology. According to the allegations spotted by Helsingen Sanomat, Donut Lab may have exaggerated key metrics, such as energy density and battery lifespan. Peltola also challenged whether the company has the necessary infrastructure to scale production, casting doubt on earlier claims that positioned the technology as close to mass-market deployment.

Additional concerns have surfaced following reports of internal communications between Donut Lab and its partners. Those documents suggest inconsistencies between what was presented publicly and the actual development stage of the technology. Engadget also reported the battery model showcased in demonstrations was reportedly based on an earlier version developed by CT-Coating.

Sources claim that development had already shifted toward a newer but less mature design, raising questions about whether outdated technology was portrayed as production-ready. That is interesting, because on LinkedIn, Lauri Peltola claims to be the chief commercial officer at Nordic Nano, another startup in Finland that is deeply involved in battery development and energy storage.

News From Nordic Nano

On its website, Nordic Nano says, “Our forthcoming product portfolio will showcase our advanced materials, transforming cutting-edge technologies into scalable, sustainable energy solutions. From capturing light in challenging conditions to storing power with long-lasting stability, our products are engineered for maximum efficiency, safety and environmental responsibility. They represent a smarter way forward, not just progress in clean energy.”

The report by Helsingen Sanomat suggested it has seen copies of internal communications between Donut Lab and two partner companies — CT-Coating and Nordic Nano. The paper adds that CT-Coating’s first-generation battery is the one that Donut Lab has been advertising, and is the model it handed to Finnish national lab VTT to test. But, according to the emails viewed by the newspaper, CT-Coating had abandoned development of that cell in favor of one that is still in early development. That raises concerns about the claim by Donut Lab in January that it had a technology ready to enter mass production.

Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehtimäki reportedly told Helsingen Sanomat he had no knowledge of Peltola’s complaint. Nordic Nano CEO Esa Parjanen, meanwhile, denied Peltola’s accusations, saying that his views were not shared by the company and that Peltola had no involvement with Nordic’s battery project.

In fact, on the Nordic Nano website, the company features a statement from last October that said, “Electric innovations and cutting-edge performance unite Donut Lab and Nordic Nano. Donut Lab’s cluster thinking sees the future of electric mobility as a network of interconnected, mutually supportive technologies — and Nordic Nano’s solutions concretely support this vision.

“Nordic Nano focuses in particular on solar energy, energy storage, and hydrogen technologies, the global demand for which has grown exponentially as the clean transition progresses. Marko Lehtimäki, founding partner and CEO of Donut Lab and a board member of Nordic Nano [emphasis added] says:

“‘As a long standing backer of Nordic Nano, this significant new strategic investment will further deepen our cooperation and accelerate the scaling of Nordic Nano’s operations. The potential of the company’s unique technology solutions in international markets is tremendous. We are excited by the strong expertise and technology within Nordic Nano and the contribution it will make to the next steps in developing our own product strategy in electrified mobility and in particular innovative and sustainable battery technology.’”

The Nordic Nano statement goes on to say: “Traditional energy technologies often rely on rare earth elements and environmentally harmful materials. Nordic Nano’s sustainable solutions offer industry players an environmentally friendly alternative that stands out with its exceptional performance and availability. The company is currently investing heavily in product development, research, testing and strategic partnerships to bring scalable and responsible energy solutions to the market.”

Maintaining Innocence

Following the complaint filed by Peltola, both companies maintained they have not misled investors or engaged in unlawful conduct. They also questioned the credibility of the whistleblower, suggesting the claims may stem from a misunderstanding of the technology.

Tech Times speculates that the controversy could influence investor confidence and prompt stricter evaluation of emerging battery technologies. “For an industry built on innovation promises, credibility and transparency are becoming just as critical as performance itself.”

So, what is going on here? Frankly, we have no idea, but filing a criminal complaint is a far more serious action than dissing someone on social media. At CleanTechnica, we report, you retort. If matters in Helsinki clarify themselves anytime soon, we will be sure to share new developments with our loyal readers, who are never shy about sharing their thoughts with us in the comments.

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