MG S9 PHEV could be first to receive the upgraded ‘Hybrid+’ set-up
MG confirms first semi-solid-state EV battery for 2026 and improved hybrids coming soon after
Next-generation MG hybrids will feature innovative new technologies including electric turbochargers and a motor claimed to eliminate nearly all engine vibration.
It’s possible that the new Hybrid+ system – which is being developed at the Chinese brand’s recently opened Frankfurt engineering centre – could initially be offered in the incoming MG S9 PHEV.
MG’s electric cars are also due to take a big step forward, thanks to the world’s first mass-produced semi-solid-state battery, which is set to arrive on European roads in a higher-specification version of the new MG 4 EV Urban hatchback this year.
Speaking during the announcement in Frankfurt, Qiu Jie, vice-president of MG’s global R&D innovation headquartes, said the new Hybrid+ e-turbo could keep spinning “at speeds of up to 70,000rpm”, practically eliminating turbo lag – much like the MGU-K system did in the previous generation of Formula 1 cars.
“This [electric turbocharging] comes after lessons were learned in Europe about your desire for more responsive performance compared with other markets,” Jie said. “Electric turbocharging increases both efficiency and performance and makes for a smoother delivery of power between electric and petrol.”
The new Hybrid+ system also introduces new digital damping technology to boost refinement, using its electric motor not only to produce power but also to counteract vibrations generated by the engine’s moving parts.
Using sensors to calculate the exact torque needed to offset vibration, the motor can in effect act like the technology inside noise-cancelling headphones, blocking out unwanted background noise.
This is said to enhance not only comfort but also efficiency, with the removal of vibrations reducing the amount of energy lost to unwanted mechanical oscillations and heat.
Combined with a bigger (1.83kWh) battery to power the next-generation electric system and the new turbo, MG’s new Hybrid+ models are claimed to be smoother, quieter and quicker than their predecessors.
Semi-solid-state battery
MG’s SolidCore semi-solid-state EV battery will initially arrive later this year.
It will be made up of a 95% solid electrolyte (a 15% increase compared with conventional batteries) and 5% liquid.
MG claims that this will improve energy density and therefore range, as well as charging speeds and the consistency of battery performance in different temperatures.
MG’s global battery chief, Li Zheung, told Autocar that semi-solid-state tech can also provide a significant weight saving versus conventional liquid batteries, claiming that future fully solid-state batteries are likely to be “more than 30%” lighter.
Thanks to the higher energy density of solid-state hardware, smaller-sized packs will be feasible too, so Zheung expects both car weight and interior space to benefit from the SolidCore development.
MG is targeting a 1000km (621-mile) range for its solid-state battery project, although it has yet to confirm which model will receive that battery.
“Straight away you can expect a 15% faster charging time and 20% quicker power delivery, but extra safety is also a big benefit for these semi-solid-state batteries compared with alternatives,” Zheung added. “Even when we crush and drill into the SolidCore battery, there is no thermal runaway at all.”
Thermal runaway can occur in conventional liquid-electrolyte lithium ion batteries after their cells are punctured. In rare cases, it leads to a fire that can’t be stopped by either water or suffocation.
MG claims its crushing and drilling tests have yet to generate sparks or flames, let alone a thermal runaway, from its semi-solid-state batteries, which are made from a manganese-based lithium ion chemistry with a hybrid gel-solid electrolyte.
