QuantumScape Announces QS PowerBlock for In-Rack Energy Storage in AI Data Centers

QuantumScape also joined the Open Compute Project, an industry consortium that defines open hardware standards for data centers.

Rhea-AI Summary

QuantumScape (QS) introduced QS PowerBlock, a modular reference design for energy storage within racks serving AI data centers.

The company reports four times the power density and five times the runtime against the Open Compute Project’s Open Rack V3 specification, using a demonstration with an expected data center training workload. The design supports 800VDC architecture and can fit different module, shelf and rack formats.

The performance results came from prototype testing and modeled system configurations under controlled conditions. Final performance will depend on product design, system configuration and real-world operating conditions. The design will be displayed at the OCP Global Summit on October 12–15, 2026.

Key Figures

Power density: 4x Runtime: 5x Thermal stability: Well over 300 °C +3 more

Power density

4x

Demonstration results versus OCP specifications

Runtime

5x

Demonstration results versus OCP specifications

Thermal stability

Well over 300 °C

QS battery cells in third-party and customer safety testing

Thermal runaway comparison

~180 °C

Typical catastrophic thermal runaway temperature for conventional lithium-ion cells

Rack power

1 MW

Racks the system is described as supporting

Architecture voltage

800VDC

Data center designs the product is described as enabling

Key Terms

lithium-metal battery, power density, thermal runaway, reference design, +1 more

5 terms

lithium-metal battery technical

"solid-state lithium-metal battery technology"

A lithium-metal battery is a rechargeable battery that uses elemental lithium as its negative electrode, allowing it to store much more energy in the same size or weight compared with conventional lithium-ion cells. For investors, that higher energy density can translate into lighter, longer-lasting electric vehicles and devices, but it also brings safety, manufacturing and cost challenges that affect commercialization timelines, regulatory scrutiny and supply-chain value.

power density technical

"four times the power density"

Power density measures how much energy a device or system can produce or transfer in a given amount of space or volume, often expressed as power per unit area or volume. It helps investors understand how efficiently a technology can deliver energy or performance relative to its size, which can influence decisions about its practicality and potential for scaling up. High power density typically indicates a compact, powerful solution, while lower values suggest larger, less intense options.

thermal runaway technical

"go into catastrophic thermal runaway"

Thermal runaway is an uncontrolled, accelerating rise in temperature inside batteries, chemical systems, or equipment where heat being produced exceeds the system’s ability to shed it, often leading to fire, explosion, or permanent damage. Investors care because it creates safety recalls, regulatory scrutiny, liability and production stoppages that can sharply hurt a company’s finances and reputation — like a small spark that rapidly becomes a larger, costly disaster.

reference design technical

"An adaptable reference design"

A reference design is a complete example blueprint for a hardware or software product provided by a component maker or platform provider, including schematics, parts lists, firmware or software and integration notes that show how to build a working device. It matters to investors because it shortens development time and reduces technical risk for companies using the design, like giving them a ready-made recipe that speeds up bringing a product to market and helps assess competitive and cost implications.

800vdc architecture technical

"supporting safer, higher-performing energy storage and 800VDC architecture"

An electrical system design that uses a nominal 800 volts of direct current (VDC) for power storage, distribution and conversion, most commonly in electric vehicles, fast-charging stations and high-power industrial equipment. Operating at roughly 800 V rather than lower-voltage alternatives reduces the electrical current needed for a given power level, which lets designers use thinner cables, smaller power electronics and achieve faster charging or higher efficiency, but it requires components, insulation and safety systems rated for the higher voltage and compatible charging infrastructure.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuantumScape Corporation (NASDAQ: QS), a global leader in solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, today introduced the QS PowerBlock for AI data centers. The modular system can deliver four times the power density and five times the runtime of current data center industry standards.

The QS PowerBlock brings QS solid-state lithium-metal battery technology into AI data centers, supporting safer, higher-performing energy storage and 800VDC architecture. An adaptable reference design, QS PowerBlock can fit a variety of module, shelf, and rack formats, and is designed for deployment in industry-standard power rack configurations. Paired with advanced power system components, it can provide AI data center customers with a compelling combination of power, runtime, and safety to power the 1 MW racks of next-generation data centers.

In a demonstration using an expected data center training workload, the QS PowerBlock exceeded key specifications set by the Open Compute Project (OCP), the industry consortium that defines open hardware standards for data centers:

• 4x the power density, allowing power-hungry AI systems to integrate into compact and cost-effective data center designs.
• 5x longer runtime, giving data center operators more margin to smooth out power fluctuations and improve hardware productivity.
• Better safety compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, helping protect billion-dollar infrastructure investments. QS battery cells have demonstrated thermal stability well over 300 °C in third-party and customer safety testing, compared to conventional lithium-ion cells, which typically go into catastrophic thermal runaway at ~180 °C.
  

“QS solid-state battery technology offers an unmatched combination of energy, power, and safety for many different applications, from electric vehicles to AI data centers and beyond,” said Dr. Siva Sivaram, CEO and president of QS. “With the QS PowerBlock, we are bringing this value proposition to AI data center customers, to enable the 800VDC designs that will power the next phase of AI growth.”

The QS PowerBlock design will be on display at the 2026 OCP Global Summit, October 12–15 at the San Jose Convention Center, at booth C19, hosted by Megmeet, an official partner and power system component provider for the NVIDIA MGX™ Ecosystem.

QS also announced that it has joined the OCP as a member. As AI workloads push data centers toward unprecedented power density, QS is joining industry leaders to build the open standards that infrastructure providers depend on.

The QS PowerBlock performance results were achieved through prototype testing and modeled system configurations under controlled conditions, with comparisons benchmarked against the OCP Open Rack V3 (ORV3) specification. Final QS PowerBlock performance will depend on product design, system configuration and real-world operating conditions.

About QuantumScape Corporation
QuantumScape is on a mission to revolutionize energy storage to enable a sustainable future. The company’s next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology is designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging and enhanced safety to support the transition away from legacy energy sources toward a lower carbon future. For more information, visit www.quantumscape.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated performance, capabilities and benefits of the QS PowerBlock reference design, its potential deployment in AI data center applications, the commercialization and scaling of its solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, and the application of its technology to AI data centers, automotive and other markets. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, hopes, beliefs, intentions and strategies regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to various risks, including the successful development and commercialization of our solid-state battery technology, the ability to achieve in commercial products the performance demonstrated in prototype testing and modeled system configurations, dependence on third-party power system components and partners, achieving technical and financial milestones, building out of high-volume processes and otherwise scaling production, achieving the performance, quality, consistency, reliability, safety, cost and throughput required for commercial production and sale, changes in economic and financial conditions, market demand for EVs, AI data centers and other energy storage applications, retaining key personnel, competition, regulatory changes, broader economic conditions, and other factors, including those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report and Quarterly Reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

For Investors
ir@quantumscape.com

For Media
media@quantumscape.com

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a52ddd94-f33b-46e1-af41-896054744524

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is QuantumScape’s QS PowerBlock for AI data centers?

QS PowerBlock is a modular reference design that brings QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal battery technology into energy storage within AI data center racks. It supports 800VDC architecture and is designed for deployment in industry-standard power rack configurations.

What safety testing has QuantumScape disclosed for QS PowerBlock battery cells?

QS battery cells demonstrated thermal stability well over 300 °C in third-party and customer safety testing. QuantumScape compares this with conventional lithium-ion cells, which typically enter catastrophic thermal runaway—an uncontrolled rise in temperature—at approximately 180 °C.