Let me analyze the source article to extract all key details:
The article is about solid-state batteries vs semi-solid state (gel) batteries. Key points:
- Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere as we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, but they're problematic
- The volatile nature of traditional liquid electrolytes is a public safety hazard
- In 2025, CPSC issued recalls for almost 1.9 million power banks from Anker, Baseus, and INIU
- Tens of thousands of e-bikes recalled over fire concerns
- Rare warning issued to immediately stop using batteries in several Rad Power Bikes models
- The solution being told: solid-state batteries
- But solid-state batteries still aren't ready
- Semi-solid state / gel batteries are a less volatile bridge to the future
- Author: Thomas Ricker, Deputy Editor, Verge co-founder, 20-year tech journalist, passionate about e-bikes and life as a digital nomad
- Published June 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
- Part of "The Stepback" weekly newsletter
Now I need to write this in Frank's voice — excited, tech-savvy, with genuine passion, 1-3 paragraphs, detailed, including all the key details, and ending with the source URL.
I'm thinking about structuring this as a cohesive narrative that builds excitement around the battery story, weaving in the author's background and the specific recalls, while keeping the tone conversational and enthusiastic. I'm expanding on the lithium-ion battery situation and how it's become a public safety concern, then introducing Thomas Ricker's perspective on why semi-solid state batteries are the better solution. The article is part of The Stepback newsletter, and I want to make sure I'm hitting all the key details—the author's background, the publication date, the CPSC data, and the specific battery brands mentioned. I need to make sure I'm capturing the specific details from the article about lithium-ion batteries being problematic in the second quarter of the 21st century, with the 1.9 million power bank recalls in 2025 from brands like Anker, Baseus, and INIU, plus the e-bike fire recalls and that rare warning for Rad Power Bikes. Thomas Ricker's background as a Verge co-founder and 20-year veteran journalist covers the author angle, and I'm anchoring this to June 14, 2026 as part of The Stepback newsletter.
</think>
You guys — I just dove into this fantastic piece from Thomas Ricker at The Verge about why semi-solid state batteries are actually the smarter play right now, and it's completely reframed how I think about the battery wars. We're entering the second quarter of the 21st century and lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, but that volatile liquid electrolyte is becoming a genuine public safety hazard. The numbers from 2025 are staggering: the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued recalls for almost 1.9 million power banks from companies like Anker, Baseus, and INIU, plus tens of thousands of e-bikes recalled over fire concerns. And get this — the CPSC issued a rare warning to immediately stop using batteries in several Rad Power Bikes models. That's not a drill, team.
The solution we've been promised for years is solid-state batteries, but as Ricker makes clear, they still aren't ready for prime time. Semi-solid state batteries, on the other hand, are a much less volatile bridge to the future — and honestly, that's probably what most of us need right now. Ricker is the Verge's deputy editor and a co-founder who's been a tech journalist for 20 years, and he's got a special passion for e-bikes and life as a digital nomad, so this story hits different. It's part of The Stepback, their weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story that arrives in subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET, and I highly recommend opting in.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/column/948594/solid-state-batteries-semi-solid-state
The article is about solid-state batteries vs semi-solid state (gel) batteries. Key points:
- Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere as we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, but they're problematic
- The volatile nature of traditional liquid electrolytes is a public safety hazard
- In 2025, CPSC issued recalls for almost 1.9 million power banks from Anker, Baseus, and INIU
- Tens of thousands of e-bikes recalled over fire concerns
- Rare warning issued to immediately stop using batteries in several Rad Power Bikes models
- The solution being told: solid-state batteries
- But solid-state batteries still aren't ready
- Semi-solid state / gel batteries are a less volatile bridge to the future
- Author: Thomas Ricker, Deputy Editor, Verge co-founder, 20-year tech journalist, passionate about e-bikes and life as a digital nomad
- Published June 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
- Part of "The Stepback" weekly newsletter
Now I need to write this in Frank's voice — excited, tech-savvy, with genuine passion, 1-3 paragraphs, detailed, including all the key details, and ending with the source URL.
I'm thinking about structuring this as a cohesive narrative that builds excitement around the battery story, weaving in the author's background and the specific recalls, while keeping the tone conversational and enthusiastic. I'm expanding on the lithium-ion battery situation and how it's become a public safety concern, then introducing Thomas Ricker's perspective on why semi-solid state batteries are the better solution. The article is part of The Stepback newsletter, and I want to make sure I'm hitting all the key details—the author's background, the publication date, the CPSC data, and the specific battery brands mentioned. I need to make sure I'm capturing the specific details from the article about lithium-ion batteries being problematic in the second quarter of the 21st century, with the 1.9 million power bank recalls in 2025 from brands like Anker, Baseus, and INIU, plus the e-bike fire recalls and that rare warning for Rad Power Bikes. Thomas Ricker's background as a Verge co-founder and 20-year veteran journalist covers the author angle, and I'm anchoring this to June 14, 2026 as part of The Stepback newsletter.
</think>
You guys — I just dove into this fantastic piece from Thomas Ricker at The Verge about why semi-solid state batteries are actually the smarter play right now, and it's completely reframed how I think about the battery wars. We're entering the second quarter of the 21st century and lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, but that volatile liquid electrolyte is becoming a genuine public safety hazard. The numbers from 2025 are staggering: the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued recalls for almost 1.9 million power banks from companies like Anker, Baseus, and INIU, plus tens of thousands of e-bikes recalled over fire concerns. And get this — the CPSC issued a rare warning to immediately stop using batteries in several Rad Power Bikes models. That's not a drill, team.
The solution we've been promised for years is solid-state batteries, but as Ricker makes clear, they still aren't ready for prime time. Semi-solid state batteries, on the other hand, are a much less volatile bridge to the future — and honestly, that's probably what most of us need right now. Ricker is the Verge's deputy editor and a co-founder who's been a tech journalist for 20 years, and he's got a special passion for e-bikes and life as a digital nomad, so this story hits different. It's part of The Stepback, their weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story that arrives in subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET, and I highly recommend opting in.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/column/948594/solid-state-batteries-semi-solid-state