The dream of solid-state batteries revolutionizing electric vehicles has long been anticipated, though the technology has often seemed far from reach. However, progress is finally accelerating, with developments such as Nio’s 150 kWh semi-solid-state batteries now available for rental.
Solid-state batteries appear to be on the verge of broader availability. In a recent interview, SAIC’s executive deputy general manager, Yu Jingmin, confirmed that the company’s own solid-state battery packs will be featured in an MG vehicle by the latter half of 2025, according to Autohome.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid, offering multiple benefits. These include higher energy density, improved safety by reducing the risk of thermal runaway fires, and faster charging capabilities.
However, details about whether SAIC’s battery is fully solid-state or semi-solid remain unclear, as does whether the battery will be included with the car or rented, as Nio has done. Either way, consumers should not expect these new batteries to come at a low cost.
Price remains a major barrier to mass adoption of solid-state technology, with Nio’s semi-solid state battery costing nearly as much as its ET7 sedan, priced at 298,000 yuan (RM182,700). This suggests that solid-state batteries may first be integrated into premium models like the MG Cyberster, while more affordable vehicles are unlikely to adopt the technology in the near term.
According to Xu Yanhua, secretary general of the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance, the EV market will continue to rely on nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries until 2030. Solid-state and sodium-ion batteries, on the other hand, are expected to gain substantial market share only by around 2035.