SAIC-owned IM Motors currently offers its L6 saloon with a semi-solid-state battery – a halfway house to a full-solid-state battery that uses a more viscous, gel-like electrolyte than the liquid in a lithium ion cell.
This pack allows an extra 33kWh of battery capacity to be crammed into the same space as an equivalent lithium ion pack. That equates to a 28% improvement in the car’s range to a total of 621 miles (1000KM), according to Chinese homologation testing.
At 1000KM of range we are already within the space of 10 years of EV’s hitting the mainstream reaching beyond what petrol cars can do which will allow for smaller batteries that are lighter for cars, and that’s with a semi-solid state battery, not a full one!
In addition to the weight reduction they’re also working on reducing the amount of critical minerals in batteries and reducing the chance of fire and increasing the range and improving the charge times.
Different models of EV wear tyres at different rates, but you are correct that on average, EVs chew through tyres at a much higher rate than comparative ICE vehicles.
Also, while low profile tyres reduce the unsprung weight of a vehicle, they are much more prone to damage than vehicles with relatively smaller rims. While you may save fuel/energy on paper, all it takes is one irreparable puncture to have a much higher environmental impact.
And it adds to microplastics by putting even more wear on tyres due to the extra weight of the battery.
They’re working on it:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/solid-state-battery-round-2025-be-decisive-year
At 1000KM of range we are already within the space of 10 years of EV’s hitting the mainstream reaching beyond what petrol cars can do which will allow for smaller batteries that are lighter for cars, and that’s with a semi-solid state battery, not a full one!
In addition to the weight reduction they’re also working on reducing the amount of critical minerals in batteries and reducing the chance of fire and increasing the range and improving the charge times.
Different models of EV wear tyres at different rates, but you are correct that on average, EVs chew through tyres at a much higher rate than comparative ICE vehicles.
Also, while low profile tyres reduce the unsprung weight of a vehicle, they are much more prone to damage than vehicles with relatively smaller rims. While you may save fuel/energy on paper, all it takes is one irreparable puncture to have a much higher environmental impact.
@Salvo @Deceptichum my #minicabMiEV weighs about half the average ICE ute, it also has tiny light commercial tyres. So choice of EV matters.