MG: future 600kW EVs will recharge in ‘10 minutes’

Future electric vehicles are set to make modern ones seem heavy, antiquated, low on range, slow to charge and expensive – if breakthrough battery developments at MG are any guide.

Half-solid-state batteries could be here as early as next year, with higher energy densities meaning smaller, lighter packs can supply the same range. That will be a boon for performance models where weight matters, such as MG’s incoming Cyberster convertible – and its new MG4 X-Power electric hot hatch.

The developments come from MG’s battery research team at parent company SAIC’s headquarters in Shanghai, China. Director of MG Battery Development Ge Hailong told Wheels the Chinese brand was developing 600kW fast-charging able to top up an EV’s battery from flat to 80 percent in just 10 minutes – although he did not confirm range.

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MG Cyberster

“Zero to 100 is complex because the fast-charge from 80 to 100 the charge current is very slow,” said Ge. “Normally we say from zero to 80 percent. Maybe about 10 minutes. Less than 15 minutes.”

Ge told Wheels that SAIC was also developing batteries even cheaper than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) units, a benchmark for battery cost and density in the EV world. He also said SAIC was close to bringing half-solid-state battery technology to the market. Solid-state batteries are considered a revolutionary technology for EVs, with new levels of energy density, low cost and improved safety.

“At SAIC, we are working with solid-state, or half-solid-state batteries, and now we have some big cooperation with a company which I can’t say,” he said.

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MG4 rear-wheel drive platform

“What I can say is that next year we will have mass production for this application, and we are very excited for its performance. It’s 800 wattage application and the mileage will be more than 1000km with faster charging rate. In 2025 we have some also very exciting half-solid technology; the battery chemical LFP and NCM.

"We know LFP is much cheaper than NCM and much safer, and that in 2025 we will have half-solid technology even lower, even cheaper than LFP. And much safer than LFP.”

An NCM battery is a type of lithium ion technology used in cars like the MG4 X-Power.

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MG4 X-Power

Ge added that 400kW fast-charging was coming to cars like the MG4 as soon as this year. Currently its maximum DC fast-charging rate is 140kW.

The half-solid-state batteries can be 30 to 40 percent more energy dense than existing NCM batteries such as that used in the MG4 X-Power, Ge said, and were slightly cheaper to produce. Ge confirmed this meant MG could use a smaller, lighter battery with the same range – and that such a battery was slated to be fitted to its Cyberster sports car.

Ge also added that SAIC was developing advanced, full solid-state batteries but said he didn’t expect the technology to be ready for market for another 10 years.