TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Transportation
A roundup of recent advances in engineering technology. In this issue, a look at some of the latest innovations and advances in transportation technology.
A SOLID-STATE BATTERY MOTORCYCLE
Estonia-based Verge Motorcycles has launched the first commercial motorcycle that uses a solid-state battery. Officially announced at CES 2026, this bike charges in just 10 minutes and can travel up to 370 miles on a single charge.
Developed in partnership with Donut Lab, these solid-state batteries enable both the speedy charge time as well as nearly doubled range compared to traditional electric motorcycles.
“The use of solid state battery technology to motorcycles in production is a historic breakthrough shaking up the entire automotive industry,” said Tuomo Lehtimäki, CEO of Verge Motorcycles, in a press statement. “Verge’s close development work with Donut Lab, along with battery pack testing and validation, has reached the point where we can implement the technology in the new evolution of Verge TS Pro model, which is already in production and available on Verge’s website and in our showroom stores.”
The Verge TS Pro—the latest model launched in November—features a next generation Donut 2.0 motor that is 50 percent lighter than its predecessor while delivering the same power and torque (737 lb-ft). The bike accelerates from zero to 62 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds.
“Donut Lab’s next-generation solid-state battery technology is a result of years of development work. We are now ready to bring truly exceptional technology to the electric mobility market, of which Verge’s motorcycle is an excellent first example,” added Donut Lab CTO Ville Piippo. “And this is just the beginning—our battery technology can be used in all types of vehicles, from motorcycles and passenger cars to trucks, robotics and stationary energy storage.”
Photos: Verge Motorcycles
A SENSOR FOR BETTER AUTONOMOUS DRIVING
At CES 2026, Boston-based startup Teradar launched its Summit™ sensor, which is the industry’s first long-range, high-resolution sensor that can provide up to 20 times the resolution of current automotive radar systems.
The sensor delivers high quality data to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) by tapping the terahertz (THz) waves, which lie between radar and lidar on the electromagnetic spectrum. Its solid-state digital phased array has a range of 300 meters and can detect small objects at great distances at any time or condition.
“As extreme weather makes low-visibility crashes more common and more deadly, the need for reliable all-condition automotive vision has never been more urgent,” said Matt Carey, CEO and co-founder of Teradar in a press statement. “By delivering visibility through fog, rain, snow, and sun glare, Teradar’s terahertz sensors could help prevent up to roughly 150,000 road deaths every year worldwide. We’re opening a sensing domain that simply hasn’t existed in automotive before, giving vehicles the ability to see in conditions where today’s systems break down.”
Currently in eight development partnerships across the U.S. and Germany, Teradar will begin bidding on high volume production programs in 2026, targeting production in 2028.
Photos: Teradar
BATTERY-ELECTRIC SHIP
Incat Tasmania’s 130-meter-long Hull 096, which the company is calling the world’s largest battery-electric ship, began harbor trials in January at the River Derwent in Australia. This marks a shift to operational testing and is the first time the vessel has moved under its own battery-electric propulsion.
Hull 096 will go through a managed series of movements on the river to test propulsion and maneuverability, along with control systems operational performance in real-world conditions.
“Moving Hull 096 under its own battery-electric power is a world first at this scale and confirms that electric propulsion is viable for large commercial vessels,” said Incat Chairman Robert Clifford in a press statement. “Harbour trials allow us to test how all systems perform together in the water. It’s a significant step towards delivery and another major milestone in the evolution of sustainable shipbuilding.”
These trials are part of a testing and commissioning program ahead of the ship’s eventual delivery to South America.
Photo: Incat Tasmania
eVTOL TAXIS EN ROUTE TO NYC
Electric air taxis are on their way to New York City skies. In January, Bristol, U.K.-based Vertical Aerospace brought its new commercial electric aircraft, Valo, to the U.S. for the first time after debuting the eVTOL in London in December.
Valo was on public display at the Classic Car Club Manhattan for a day in mid-January. As the publicity tour continues, Vertical is plotting out electric air travel routes in New York with Bristow Group and Skyports Infrastructure.
Valo is designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour with zero operating emissions and meet airliner-level safety standards. About 1,500 of the four-seater vehicles have already been pre-ordered, with customers including American Airlines, Bristow, and Japan Airlines.
“The U.S. Valo tour builds on the momentum from our London unveiling and a year of strong execution across testing, partnerships, and certification,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “New York is a natural next step to explore how electric aviation could support urban and regional travel in the US, working with partners like Bristow and Skyports to keep safety, certification and real-world operations at the core.”
The aircraft is targeting certification in 2028, enabling entry into service in the U.S. and globally with airline and operator customers. Vertical envisions the aircraft serving multiple purposes, such as airport transfers, sightseeing, emergency services, and event travel.
“Evaluating potential use cases around Downtown Skyport helps demonstrate how our infrastructure could support a wide range of journeys—from airports and events to leisure and urban connections—as electric aviation develops,” added Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports Infrastructure.
Photos: Vertical Aerospace
© 2026 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved.