{ "docId": "019dd923-622c-750b-8b9a-32b620517ee9", "docSlug": "2ec39f20dd86", "documentTitle": "QuantumScape (QS)", "authorId": "58_Scorpion_Capital", "authorName": "Scorpion Capital", "documentKindSlug": "activist-deck", "documentKindLabel": "Activist deck", "sourceTypeSlug": "short_seller", "sourceTypeLabel": "Short seller", "presentationDate": "2021-04-15 00:00:00", "orientation": "landscape", "aspectRatio": 1.3333334, "pageNumber": 62, "pageCount": 188, "prevPage": 61, "nextPage": 63, "slideType": "expose_contradiction", "function": "expose_contradiction", "density": "overcrowded", "nDataPoints": 0, "notes": "The slide uses expert testimony to debunk a specific technical claim made by the company.", "elementsJson": [ "headline_text", "paragraph", "quote_block", "footnote" ], "metadataConfidence": 1, "imagePath": null, "slideHref": "/slides/019dd923-622c-750b-8b9a-32b620517ee9/62", "deckHref": "/decks/019dd923-622c-750b-8b9a-32b620517ee9", "deckJsonHref": "/decks/019dd923-622c-750b-8b9a-32b620517ee9.json", "deckAnchorHref": "/decks/019dd923-622c-750b-8b9a-32b620517ee9#slide-62", "components": [ { "bbox": null, "kind": "callout", "text": "Anyone can “prevent” dendrites with pulsing but it’s not how batteries operate in the real-world", "attrs": null, "subkind": null, "toolName": "Visual emphasis", "toolSlug": "visual-emphasis", "confidence": null, "componentId": "019dd952-f5d1-75b6-b05b-89cb4e0d2c1d", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null }, { "bbox": { "h": 0.15, "w": 0.9, "x": 0.05, "y": 0.18 }, "kind": "paragraph", "text": "One of the experts we asked to analyze the QS data has conducted similar experiments and explained why it’s cheating: lithium has a low melting temperature, and pulsing creates electrical resistance that heats the lithium, which causes dendrites to smooth out in the rest period between pulses – which “is not how batteries are operated in the field.” The expert further noted the lack of a voltage spike in the pulsing data as another red flag in the chart, and wondered what “other tricks they played during the resting period.”", "attrs": null, "subkind": "paragraph", "toolName": null, "toolSlug": null, "confidence": null, "componentId": "58e3cb0a-cd9b-4923-9900-4d7d66edef43", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null }, { "bbox": { "h": 0.25, "w": 0.9, "x": 0.05, "y": 0.62 }, "kind": "quote", "text": "Lack of a voltage spike in the pulse data is another worrisome red flag “We conducted a similar pulse experiment in our lab. ... I don’t understand why they have no voltage spike at all. There is a certain shape in the voltage we should be seeing, but we don’t see it. ...” – Solid-state expert", "attrs": null, "subkind": "testimonial", "toolName": null, "toolSlug": null, "confidence": null, "componentId": "bc14b53d-0887-4970-a268-134b2d4bbd2b", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null }, { "bbox": { "h": 0.25, "w": 0.9, "x": 0.05, "y": 0.35 }, "kind": "quote", "text": "Anyone can “prevent” dendrites with pulsing but it’s not how batteries operate in the real-world “So the question is, why do they have to pulse? ... That is not how batteries are operated in the field. ... I don’t know what other tricks they played during the resting period. We’re curious.” – Solid state expert", "attrs": null, "subkind": "testimonial", "toolName": null, "toolSlug": null, "confidence": null, "componentId": "d824906b-6c48-4de3-9920-04b90928d64e", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null }, { "bbox": null, "kind": "quote", "text": "“So the question is, why do they have to pulse? People can show pulse data, no problem, but we really want to see the continuous data. When you're continuously moving across 30-microns of lithium, what happens? That's what Prof. Sakamoto's point is as well [in the Levine article]. They might be doing some trick, reversing something and then pulsing again and then doing something else. That is not how batteries are operated in the field. Pulsing helps to solve the dendrite problem because as temperature goes up during the resting period, lithium metal will even out because it melts at a very low temperature. When you pulse, the resistance increases and the temperature increases. As the cells rests, the lithium smooths out. I don't know what other tricks they played during the resting period. We're curious.” — Solid state expert; “We conducted a similar pulse experiment in our lab. But the problem is the voltage profile, which has no spike. All the lines look very flat. Typically, when we go with very high current density like 100mA, there will be some kind of voltage spike. But we don't see it [in their slide]. I conducted a similar pulse experiment and we always see the voltage spike, even in a liquid cell. I don't understand why they have no voltage spike at all. There is a certain shape in the voltage should be seeing, but we don't see it. The x-axis says 30-micron lithium, so they moved across 30-micron lithium, but with pulses, not continuously but using a resting period.” — Solid-state expert", "attrs": null, "subkind": null, "toolName": "Authority citation", "toolSlug": "authority-citation", "confidence": null, "componentId": "019dd952-f5d1-75b6-b05b-8cce5bb9f810", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null }, { "bbox": { "h": 0.03, "w": 0.3, "x": 0.05, "y": 0.95 }, "kind": "source-note", "text": "Source: Scorpion Capital consultation calls with experts", "attrs": null, "subkind": null, "toolName": null, "toolSlug": null, "confidence": null, "componentId": "448134b6-ce7e-487f-bb22-b02a66d13f5a", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null }, { "bbox": { "h": 0.1, "w": 0.9, "x": 0.05, "y": 0.07 }, "kind": "title", "text": "Red flag 2 (cont’d): Leading solid-state battery researcher who’s conduced similar pulse tests explain why it’s a trick, and notes another discrepancy in the dendrite data", "attrs": null, "subkind": "action-title", "toolName": null, "toolSlug": null, "confidence": null, "componentId": "7b561070-bd35-48b1-994d-d206ebc7fc0e", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null }, { "bbox": { "h": 0.03, "w": 0.4, "x": 0.05, "y": 0.04 }, "kind": "title", "text": "3) Phony claim A: Solid-state material resists dendrites", "attrs": null, "subkind": "headline", "toolName": null, "toolSlug": null, "confidence": null, "componentId": "d7bf0b1a-ac92-4fd2-9874-b13d2b3a9453", "frameworkName": null, "frameworkSlug": null } ], "metrics": [], "tools": [], "frameworks": [ { "name": "fraud-exposure", "slug": null, "matchId": "bebc2e18-f7d9-409e-8598-ade4b708f03f", "evidence": "The slide explicitly frames technical data as a 'trick' and 'cheating' to expose potential fraud.", "confidence": 0.9 } ], "arcBeats": [ { "to": 150, "from": 7, "beatId": "bb56e2cc-71d0-4a88-adf5-a740e3b3215c", "arcName": "Overcoming the Monster", "arcSlug": "overcoming-monster", "beatName": "Critique of Quantumscape's claims and technology", "beatSlug": null, "evidence": "The document presents a detailed critique of Quantumscape's claims and technology.", "position": 0, "confidence": 0.8, "parentBeatName": null, "parentBeatSlug": null }, { "to": 149, "from": 8, "beatId": "f51b8fe3-6117-425f-a2bb-d0457528eb59", "arcName": "Overcoming the Monster", "arcSlug": "overcoming-monster", "beatName": "Exposure of contradictions and red flags in Quantumscape's data", "beatSlug": null, "evidence": "The document highlights multiple contradictions and red flags in Quantumscape's data.", "position": 1, "confidence": 0.8, "parentBeatName": null, "parentBeatSlug": null } ], "loops": [], "imagePathAlt": null, "thumbSrc": null, "thumbSrcAlt": null, "locked": true }