At its recent EV Day event, the Stellantis Group has outlined its future road map towards electrification. Stellantis will invest more than $30 billion (Rs 2,22,030 crore) in new electrification and software technology by the end of 2025. With this, the group has committed to offer EVs from all of its 14 brands and invest in five battery factories. Stellantis is targeting low-emissions vehicles (LEV) to account for more than 70 percent of its European sales and 40 percent of its US sales by 2030.
- Its low-emissions vehicles to include both electric cars and plug-in hybrids
- By 2030, Stellantis expects BEVs to account for no less than 80 percent of its BEV mix
- Opel, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Fiat will become electric-only by 2030
All Stellantis EVs to be based on four broad BEV platforms
All EVs from each of the brands of the Stellantis group will be based around four ‘BEV-by-design’ platforms and powered by a family of three electric drive modules with standardised battery packs. These four BEV platforms are all designed to offer a high degree of flexibility and component sharing. The firm says that each can support production of up to two million vehicles per year.
The STLA Small platform for city cars will offer a range of up to 480km. STLA Medium will be for premium cars and offer a range of up to 704km. STLA Large will be used for four-wheel-drive performance models and muscle cars, giving a range of up to 800km. Lastly, the STLA Frame will be for models with a ladder-on-frame design, and will be used for large SUVs, trucks and commercial vehicles and offer up to 800km of range.
Three electric drive modules, combining the motor, gearbox and inverter, will be used on these platforms. They're designed so that they can be easily scaled for each vehicle. Each platform can allow front-, rear- and four-wheel-drive. The battery packs will be tailored for a variety of vehicles, with capacities ranging from 37kWh to 200kWh. Stellantis is also investing heavily in software, and the BEV platforms will allow for both software and hardware upgrades. That includes over-the-air software updates.
Major investment in battery production and technology
Stellantis’ new investment will also be directed towards securing more than 130GWh of EV battery production capacity by 2025 and more than 260GWh by 2030, through five dedicated battery factories in Europe and North America. The firm has reached deals with two partners to secure a supply of lithium.
The firm says that it will also use its technical expertise and economies of scale to drive down battery costs, targeting a reduction of more than 40 percent from 2020 to 2024, and then a further 20 percent by 2030. It will also invest in battery repair and remanufacturing, second-life use and recycling. Stellantis will use two battery chemistries: a high-energy density option and, from 2024, a nickel cobalt-free alternative. The firm also plans to introduce solid-state battery technology in 2026.
What it means for individual brands?
The Stellantis group currently has 14 brands under its name – Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall. Stellantis has released statements for all 14 of its brands to reflect the electrification approach of each.
Opel – including Vauxhall in the UK – will become an electric-only brand in Europe by the end of 2028, in both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Peugeot has also committed to accelerating its EV sales, and its line-up will be fully electrified by 2025. As has already been announced, Fiat will become electric-only by 2030, and will launch a new dedicated EV in 2024. Fiat’s performance brand, Abarth, will also go electric-only.
Even American muscle car brand Dodge will have their first electric muscle car by 2024. Jeep has made a commitment to offer an EV powertrain on all of its models. American truck maker Ram will also launch electrified models of its popular pickups.
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