An affordable EV with solid-state batteries? MG Motor is launching a new semi-solid-state battery-powered EV next year, claiming “the price is not expensive.” Here’s what you can expect.
MG to launch a semi-solid-state battery EV in 2025
Formerly a British auto brand, MG is now owned by Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor. China’s auto giant is using the well-known name to help drive its overseas sales push.
Although MG is already the top-selling Chinese EV brand with electric cars like the MG4, the company has even bigger plans. According to MG’s general manager, Zhou Xing, the brand’s first EV to launch in 2025 will be powered by a semi-solid-state battery.
Zhou posted on social media, saying, “The first new model to be launched by the MG brand next year may be equipped with a semi-solid battery.” He added, “Let me report to you first that the price is not expensive.”
According to Zhou, the new battery will be standard on the upcoming model. MG’s general manager confirmed the brand will launch two new models in China and two refreshed ones in 2025.
Several automakers and other companies are rushing to launch solid-state EV batteries, promising drastically more range, higher energy density, and faster charging speeds. However, safety, performance, and challenges in scaling production have been major hurdles.
MG’s semi-solid-state EV battery uses solid and liquid electrolytes, which is easier to produce but offers lower energy density than an all-solid-state EV battery.
Other companies, like Factorial Energy, are advancing all-solid-state EV batteries. Last week, Factorial announced its new battery tech, introduced with Mercedes-Benz, scaled to achieve a 40Ah capacity.
Factorial’s CTO and Co-Founder, Alex Yu, claims its Solstice all-solid-state cells have “up to 80% higher energy density” than most current lithium-ion tech. The company aims to unlock over 600 miles of driving range with a 40% weight reduction. Factorial’s all-solid-state EV batteries are expected to launch by the end of the decade.
Mercedes plans to test EVs with solid-state batteries on the road “in a few months.” The automaker is confident in its plans to produce solid-state EV batteries at scale by 2030.
Source: AutoCar, Zhou Xing