Chinese electric automaker IM Motors, the joint venture between SAIC Motor and Alibaba, is on track to introduce its fourth offering with some exciting specs. The company’s co-Chief Executive, Liu Tao, recently teased that the upcoming Zhiji L6 will come with solid-state batteries.
IM Motors’ Weibo post reiterated the executive’s remarks, indicating that the model will be the world’s first mass-produced electric car to use an ultra-fast charging solid-state battery.
Solid-state battery tech
IM Motors’ parent company, SAIC, signed another joint venture with Qingdao Energy to gain its help in developing and applying solid-state batteries. The Zhiji L6 will be the first model to benefit from this partnership.
The company claims the Zhiji L6 employs a patented “nano-scale electrolyte” with “high ionic conductivity and high-temperature resistance.” It also indicates that the battery’s positive electrode (cathode) has a nickel coating, while the negative electrode (anode) consists of “high-specific energy composite silicon carbon material.”
Moreover, it also features a quasi-900-volt battery architecture that will enable ultra-fast charging speeds using a powerful DC charger.
Technical details
During the recent Geneva Motor Show, IM Motors shared that the Zhiji L6 with solid-state battery would deliver a CLTC-rated range of 1000 km (800 km WLTP).
However, according to Car News China, MIIT listings for the car do not indicate a solid-state battery technology. Intead, it features two CATL ternary lithium (NCM) battery options: 90 or 100 kWh. Depending on the powertrain configuration, the smaller battery pack enables a CLTC-rated driving range of 700 km-720 km. Meanwhile, the larger option delivers a range of 770 km (RWD) and 750 km (AWD)
IM Motors also showed off the Zhiji L6’s crab-walking capability like the Hummer EV, hinting that the model will be expensive.
About IM Motors
The impending Zhiji L6 will arrive just after about 3 and a half years of the company’s operation. Despite this relatively short time, IM Motors has established its name in China’s booming luxury electric car market.
The SAIC Motor-Alibaba joint venture introduced its initial portfolio of three models in 2021, including the full-size L7 sedan and two midsize SUVs, the LS7 and LS6.
Now, the company is preparing to launch its new midsize sedan, L6, after its initial debut at the Geneva Auto Show last month.
IM Motors plans to announce more details about the new L6 electric sedan at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show on April 8 ahead of its official launch in May.
People should take the Zhiji L6’s solid-state battery claims with a grain of salt, for now, considering the local regulatory filings that only show smaller NCM batteries.
