EV breakthrough may already be a flop: Why MG and IM Motors' semi-solid-state electric car batteries are not living up to the grand expectations

They were supposed to herald a new era of electric vehicles. Crushing range anxiety with the ability to drive over 1000km on a single charge. They would see the end of internal combustion engines as this new technology finally fixed the biggest issue of electric vehicle (EV) uptake.

I’m talking about semi-solid-state batteries, which feature a unique chemistry that provides a more energy dense battery that can extend range well beyond the current 500-600km maximum.

Now one of the biggest proponents of semi-sold-state batteries admits the technology may already be redundant as consumer expectations shift.

Chinese giant IM Motors launched the L6 sedan in its domestic market in 2024 with a semi-solid state battery, which it claimed was capable of traveling up to 1000km (on the more lenient CTLC test protocol).

IM Motors Sales and Marketing Director for Overseas Markets Stephen Xu admitted semi solid state batteries are still a work-in-progress, but also conceded 1000km of driving range might actually be too much for customers and actually undesirable on a consumer level.

“ I don't think so”, Xu said when asked if semi solid state batteries were ready for production.

“But fortunately I drive [an EV with a] semi-solid battery. It's still in progress, but it can last 1000km. I drive day and night and I'm exhausted but the battery's still alive.”

Xu went on to say that, in his opinion, the need for so much range doesn’t make sense to customers. Especially in China where most EV owners are based in cities and drive short distances and have regular access to charging.

“Just from my point of view, the battery is, you know, to have [such a] long range is useless when you’re in the urban environment],” he said. “So that may not be the best choice. You put a very big battery but only use it in the city.”

He also made the point that, particularly in more developed EV markets such as China, the increase in charging infrastructure and the decrease in charging times, means a driving range of 1000km or more is simply too much.

“Actually five or six years ago, Chinese customers were very keen on that long battery, a huge battery,” he explained. “But right now with the charging station, especially the super high voltage charging stations, which are more and more in China, over maybe 30 or 40 per cent. They think it's okay because when you go to, maybe city to city. There's a lot of charging stations. Our car is 800-volt platform [so it] only takes 15 minutes [to charge from] 30 to 80 per cent travel range. So [the time it takes to drink] a cup of coffee. So why should you add a big battery to the car with the energy consumption, which is very high.

“So  people's concept and mind change about, so there's two years ago the, the semi-solid or the solid battery is very hot on the internet, but right now seems little people continue focus on on that one.”

IM Motors has just launched in Australia, with the IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV, each with conventional battery chemistry and available with either a 75kWh or 100kWh battery providing between 490km and 655km of range.