The automotive industry is gearing up for a groundbreaking new release in China on August 4th – the debut of the MG4 electric hatchback. This vehicle is set to make waves as the world’s first small mass-market EV equipped with a semi-solid-state battery, a technology that has long been seen as the future of electric vehicles.
Solid-state batteries have been hailed as the holy grail of EV technology, promising increased range, faster charging times, improved cold-weather performance, and enhanced safety due to their superior thermal stability. While a single solid-state battery that encompasses all these advantages at an affordable price point may still be a distant dream, different variations of solid-state technology are expected to emerge, each tailored to specific use cases.
China, known for its innovative battery manufacturing sector, is taking a significant step towards this future with the introduction of a semi-solid-state battery in the budget-friendly MG4 hatchback by MG Motor, a British automaker under China’s SAIC Motor. Priced between 80,000 yuan and 120,000 yuan (approximately $11,000 to $16,500), the MG4 is poised to become the first affordable EV in the world to feature this cutting-edge technology, according to reports from CarNewsChina.
Unlike traditional EV batteries that use liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries replace the liquid with a solid electrolyte. Semi-solid-state batteries, on the other hand, utilize a gel-like electrolyte, offering a hybrid solution that combines the best aspects of both designs. The battery in the MG4, supplied by Chinese manufacturer QingTao Energy, contains only 5% liquid electrolyte.
While the energy density of the MG4’s semi-solid-state battery is lower than some other battery technologies, such as Tesla’s lithium-ion cells and Factorial’s semi-solid-state cells, it is optimized for affordability, cold-weather performance, and safety. The MG4 is expected to achieve an impressive range of 537 kilometers on the China Light-Duty Test Cycle, equivalent to around 217 miles under the stricter EPA test conditions.
With a 70 kWh capacity and the ability to maintain performance even at -7°C, the MG4’s battery outshines the LFP batteries commonly used in Chinese EVs. This affordable hatchback could serve as an ideal daily driver or even a long-distance traveler, thanks to China’s extensive charging infrastructure.
While the MG4 may not be available in the U.S., it represents a significant milestone in the development of semi-solid-state batteries for mass-market EVs. In the U.S., companies like Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW are also exploring solid-state battery technology for their upcoming electric vehicles, albeit with a focus on range and performance rather than affordability in the short term.
As the automotive industry continues to push the boundaries of EV technology, the introduction of semi-solid-state batteries in budget-friendly vehicles like the MG4 highlights the potential for widespread adoption of this innovative technology in the near future.