Affordable EVs Now Sport Solid-State Batteries

The MG4 will be the first affordable electric vehicle available to the general public, featuring a semi-solid-state battery. However, you won’t be able to get it.

A fresh MG4 electric compact car is set to be introduced in China on August 4.
It is anticipated to be the world’s initial small-scale electric vehicle with a semi-solid-state battery available for mass consumption.
The approximate range is 537 kilometers (333 miles) according to China’s Light-Duty Test Cycle.

Solid-state batteries have traditionally been seen as themost prized asset in electric vehicle technology—promising increased range, quicker charging, improved performance in cold conditions, and a reduced risk of fires due to enhanced thermal stability.

However, a single solid-state battery that offers all these advantages and stays cost-effective is not expected to appear anytime soon. Similar to today’s lithium-ion batteries, various types of solid-state technology are likely to develop, each tailored for particular applications.

Currently, in the world’s biggest electric vehicle market, we are witnessing the initial signs of this future becoming a reality. China is already a center for battery production and innovation, and it is about to introduce a semi-solid-state battery into an affordable mass-market vehicle.

British carmaker MG Motor—owned by China’s state-backed SAIC Motor—has stated that its small MG4 hatchback, which costs between 80,000 yuan and 120,000 yuan (approximately $11,000 to $16,500), will soon feature a semi-solid-state battery.

If that’s the case, it would be the first affordable electric vehicle globally to incorporate this technology.CarNewsChina reported.

Photo by: MG

It’s an early indication that this new technology will not be restricted to costly vehicles or high-performance models. It can be developed for budget-friendly electric vehicles as well, and may even offer a more effective option compared to lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

In a standard electric vehicle battery, a liquid electrolyte facilitates the movement of ions between the electrodes when the battery is charged or discharged. Solid-state batteries replace this liquid with a solid electrolyte.Semi–solid-state batteries, as the name implies, employs a gel-like electrolyte, providing a combined approach that blends elements of both designs. MG’s battery will utilize just 5% liquid electrolyte.

Like all battery technologies, there are compromises involved. The battery pack installed in the MG4, provided by Chinese battery manufacturer QingTao Energy, has an energy density of approximately 180 watt hours per kilogram. This is considerably less thanTesla’s 4680 lithium-ion cells, which are estimated to be 272–296 Wh/kg. They are also significantly behind the American startupFactorial’s semi–solid-state cells rated at 375 Wh/kg.

Photo by: MG

However, it appears this battery was not designed to excel in range competitions. The focus seems to be on cost-effectiveness, performance in cold weather, and safety—particularly when contrasted with LFP batteries, which are prevalent in the Chinese electric vehicle market.

The MG4 is anticipated to provide a range of 537 kilometers according to the China Light-Duty Test Cycle, equivalent to approximately 217 miles under the more rigorous EPA test (considering a 35% decrease). For a $16,500 small hatchback, this is remarkable. It surpasses the BYD Seagull’s 415 km CLTC range. It could serve as an ideal everyday vehicle or even for longer trips, thanks to China’s well-developed charging network.

MG states that the battery retains its range and performance even in temperatures as low as -7°C (19°F) and has successfully undergone demanding safety tests, including puncture endurance trials. The battery’s 70 kWh capacity—bigger than the Seagull’s 30–43.2 kWh LFP battery—also accounts for its better range.

That’s a shame it won’t be available in the U.S. This is the kind of electric vehicle that has been lacking in this country and something that electric vehicle enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for.

Semi-solid-state batteries are also being researched in the U.S. However, the focus of this research appears to be more on achieving greater range and performance, rather than affordability—especially not in the near future.

Stellantis will start testing the Dodge Charger Daytona EVwith a solid-state battery in the coming year.Mercedes-Benz and BMWhave already incorporated solid-state batteries into a prototype EQS and an i7.

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