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MG Set To Introduce Solid-State Batteries In Their Vehicles By 2025
MG is preparing to release an electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery as early as the second quarter of 2025. The news, confirmed by an official from MG’s parent company SAIC, positions MG ahead of all mainstream rivals, including Volkswagen, in the race to bring solid-state battery technology to the mass market.
Solid-state batteries, long considered the holy grail of EV technology, offer several advantages over the current lithium-ion batteries. They promise higher energy density, potentially leading to significantly longer driving ranges. Solid-state batteries are inherently safer due to the absence of flammable liquid electrolytes, eliminating the risk of battery fires. They also charge faster, contributing to an easier EV ownership experience.
While MG has yet to reveal the specifics of its solid-state battery, it’s likely to share similarities with the ‘Lightyear’ battery recently showcased by IM Motor, another SAIC brand. This battery, with an energy density of 368 W/kg, enables a remarkable range of 1,083 km on the Chinese CLTC testing cycle and can deliver up to 401 km of range in just 12 minutes of fast charging.
MG’s aggressive push toward solid-state batteries suggests SAIC’s intent to ramp up production and leverage economies of scale across its various brands. SAIC envisions that solid-state batteries will eventually be up to 30% cheaper than the current lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, a cost advantage that could translate to more affordable electric cars.
While the world awaits the arrival of MG’s solid-state battery EV, the company also has its eyes set on the near future with the launch of the new MG S5 electric SUV in November 2024. This model will initially hit the Chinese market with both single- and dual-motor options powered by LFP batteries. However, plans are in motion to introduce this SUV to the European market by the end of 2025.
