MG's Semi Solid State Battery

[Fogey]

I'm perfectly happy with the (relatively slow) charging speed of my SE SR .. any faster and I won't have time to get both a pee and a coffee as the charging will have finished, so I'd have to go and move the car.

Exactly! That's what happens with ICE cars. It means that the pee/refuel stop takes longer than a fast top-up charge, in practice! And is more hassle.

 

[T1 Terry]

Exactly! That's what happens with ICE cars. It means that the pee/refuel stop takes longer than a fast top-up charge, in practice! And is more hassle.

For some of use, that involves filling a tank before draining one, just the hose flow is faster for one event than the other .....

T1 Terry

 

[Fogey]

Thing is, with ICE, you have to be in attendance at the pump whilst adding fuel - then you have to move the car to a car park in order for your comfort break. With an EV you just roll up to a charger, plug in, and saunter over to wherever at your leisure. Much easier, and potentially faster.

 

[Ian Key]

Thing is, with ICE, you have to be in attendance at the pump whilst adding fuel - then you have to move the car to a car park in order for your comfort break. With an EV you just roll up to a charger, plug in, and saunter over to wherever at your leisure. Much easier, and potentially faster.

When I had to use the public charger I used to take the dog for a walk. Imagine filling up your ICE car then opening the boot to let the dog out before wandering off for 20 minutes.

 

[T1 Terry]

Thing is, with ICE, you have to be in attendance at the pump whilst adding fuel - then you have to move the car to a car park in order for your comfort break. With an EV you just roll up to a charger, plug in, and saunter over to wherever at your leisure. Much easier, and potentially faster.

Weren't you one of the considerate ones, I'm sure I've lined up behind people who went in for a meal or something .....

On one occasion, I gave a long horn blast in the Winnie, after creeping forward till there wasn't enough room to walk between the Winnie Bullbar and their rear bumper, it got mother out of the passenger seat and walking around to the driver's side to move the car ..... the driver finally walked out with coffees, buckets of chips and other supply, bundled high, and looked confused because I was filling with LPG where he had parked mid way between all the pumps .....

T1 Terry

 

[EvTek23]

An article from Forbes discussing MG's Semi Solid State Battery and it's first use in the MG 4 Urban

MG Semi-Solid-State Batteries Promise Performance And Safety Upgrade

Solid-state batteries are taking ages to arrive, but MG is launching semi-solid-state in Europe in 2026. Here's how they mean a big step forward over regular lithium-ion.

www.forbes.com

 

[Gomev]

Solid state batteries are supposed to have higher energy density, so smaller/lighter packs for the same energy. But a kWh is a kWh so don't expect more range per kWh per se. That will have to do with other factors such as weight, aero dynamics and motor efficiency etc.

Have I got that right ?

 

[T1 Terry]

Solid state batteries are supposed to have higher energy density, so smaller/lighter packs for the same energy. But a kWh is a kWh so don't expect more range per kWh per se. That will have to do with other factors such as weight, aero dynamics and motor efficiency etc.

Have I got that right ?

Add to that, they aren't actually solid state yet, semi solid state is a bit like being a semi millionaire, you have $100 to back the horses and a lot of hopes and dreams ...
If, in 5 yrs time, they do actually still hold a good state of health after their supposed ultra fast charging potential is actually applied and their claimed great low temp performance ..... only then will they have proved themselves in the real world.
There are no actual verified independent lab results to back up these claims, they could be Donut Lab batteries or Krispy Keme donuts for all the evidence that has been supplied .....

Also keep in mind, this is MG's way to get NMC chemistry past the strict "No spontaneous combustion" rules that come into affect in a mth or so ....

I know it's an unheard of thing for an EV maker claiming stuff they can't actually achieve, so I'll stay with the "wait and see" mindset, until some hard evidence appears

T1 Terry

 

[tsedge]

Here's some info on the new Chinese rules from 1st July 2026:

China introduces world's first EV battery safety law requiring fire prevention

Source: Cycling Electric China has passed a new electric vehicle (EV) battery safety regulation, becoming the first country to mandate that battery packs must not catch fire or explode, even in the event of internal thermal runaway. Effective from mid-2026, this regulation will require EV...

leva-eu.com

 

[Bam Bam]

Solid state batteries are supposed to have higher energy density, so smaller/lighter packs for the same energy. But a kWh is a kWh so don't expect more range per kWh per se. That will have to do with other factors such as weight, aero dynamics and motor efficiency etc.

Have I got that right ?

The lighter weight and greater size convenience might lead to efficiency improvements, but only because of the issues you've raised - lower weight and any aero advantages that the batteries facilitate.

 

[tsedge]

Don't forget they'll be more expensive to start with, so you'll pay more for solid state (or semi solid state) over other types, until prices come down.

I've heard a lot about these batteries, but I will believe them when I see them.

 

[Yevgen K]

Guys, I tried to find information what kWh capacity of this solid-state battery is in MG4 Urban. And I can't find it.

 

[Ian Key]

Guys, I tried to find information what kWh capacity of this solid-state battery is in MG4 Urban. And I can't find it.

The semi-solid state battery to be introduced later this year in Europe will have a 54kWh

 

[tsedge]

Some key information that's been released:

• Energy density of first-generation semi-solid state will be no higher than current LFP tech.
• Range of 54kWh SSS battery to be likely same as 64kWh NMC.
• Faster charging (but not massively faster).
• Much better low temperature performance (probably the most noticeable change in UK).
• Good for rapid discharge: so will probably be in performance variants initially.

Future generations will bring a lot more on all fronts, but this will take years to filter through.

Semi-solid-state batteries will arrive this year, and MG has won the race! | Auto Express

Industry-first semi-solid-state batteries will be available from the end of this year in new MG4 Urban

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[T1 Terry]

Some key information that's been released:

• Energy density of first-generation semi-solid state will be no higher than current LFP tech.
• Range of 54kWh SSS battery to be likely same as 64kWh NMC.
• Faster charging (but not massively faster).
• Much better low temperature performance (probably the most noticeable change in UK).
• Good for rapid discharge: so will probably be in performance variants initially.

Future generations will bring a lot more on all fronts, but this will take years to filter through.

Semi-solid-state batteries will arrive this year, and MG has won the race! | Auto Express

Industry-first semi-solid-state batteries will be available from the end of this year in new MG4 Urban

www.autoexpress.co.uk

That depends of course, on it not catching fire over the next 5 yrs, forcing China to tighten their rules till NMC has to be either fully solid state or a different work around is discovered ..... who knows, Donut Lab batteries might even turn out to be the real deal ..... at about that stage, we will be swamped with Easter Bunnies, Tooth Fairies and even Santa with a new trick for getting into the house through the heat pump .....

T1 Terry

 

[Gomev]

Some key information that's been released:

• Energy density of first-generation semi-solid state will be no higher than current LFP tech.
• Range of 54kWh SSS battery to be likely same as 64kWh NMC.
• Faster charging (but not massively faster).
• Much better low temperature performance (probably the most noticeable change in UK).
• Good for rapid discharge: so will probably be in performance variants initially.

Future generations will bring a lot more on all fronts, but this will take years to filter through.

Semi-solid-state batteries will arrive this year, and MG has won the race! | Auto Express

Industry-first semi-solid-state batteries will be available from the end of this year in new MG4 Urban

www.autoexpress.co.uk

Slightly confused here by those statements as NMC is more energy dense than LFP.
So if SSS is the same energy density as LFP, then how does a 54 kWh SSS have the same range as 64kWh NMC ? After all a kWh is a kWh regardless of being SSS, LFP or NMC.

 

[T1 Terry]

Slightly confused here by those statements as NMC is more energy dense than LFP.
So if SSS is the same energy density as LFP, then how does a 54 kWh SSS have the same range as 64kWh NMC ?

The SSS is NMC chemistry, the rest is smoke and mirrors I reckon Donut anyone?

T1 Terry

 

[Gomev]

The SSS is NMC chemistry, the rest is smoke and mirrors I reckon Donut anyone?

T1 Terry

Lots of S&M (that's smoke and mirrors, not what you were thinking......) as the very first statement said

• Energy density of first-generation semi-solid state will be no higher than current LFP tech.

 

[MG Clive]

 

[T1 Terry]

Don't you love influencers, they like to explain in simple terms, something they haven't a clue about

Somewhere in there he told us that they can pack a lot more energy into the same area ... or was it weight, that it's safer, yet to see, performs better in heat and cold, well, better than full liquid electrolyte NMC, but not even close to Na+, better cycle life, yet to see .....
It does allow Saic to continue with NMC chemistry at the moment because it appears to have passed the Chinese "not burst into flames on thermal runaway" test, but no data published by an independent testing lab about over voltage or under voltage thermal run away risk, charging capabilities, peak load capabilities, rapid cycle testing data ...... Just take our word for it, these are the next level

T1 Terry