Platform sharing: Stellantis’ EV future

The title ‘Stellantis’ evokes astronomical connotations, and that is maybe applicable for a corporation that was fashioned from the merger of two already massive conglomerates, and now has ambitions to guide the worldwide automotive business.

Created final yr from a merger between FCA (Fiat Chrysler Vehicles) and Groupe PSA, Stellantis is now one of the crucial brand-heavy corporations within the automotive house.

At present, the corporate consists of 14 distinct manufacturers promoting automobiles underneath their very own names. Collectively, these manufacturers cowl the complete gamut of automotive segments, from metropolis vehicles just like the Lancia Ypsilon to the enormous Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickup truck.

Stellantis has inherited quite a few platforms from its predecessor corporations, and with this bevy of platforms comes distinctive tooling, separate energetic security, driver help and infotainment programs, and a raft of powertrains and drivetrains.

These points all create substantial inefficiencies and extra prices on the mass-production stage, and these points are additional sophisticated by Stellantis’ dedication to promote electrical automobiles in substantial portions, with the corporate not too long ago confirming that it expects to promote a complete of 5 million battery-electric automobiles, throughout its 14 manufacturers, by 2030.

In comparison with the standard internal-combustion automotive, nonetheless, an EV requires fewer elements to fabricate.

With the corporate deciding to gradually phase out production of its combustion-powered models, this additionally offers Stellantis with a chance to closely consolidate the event and manufacturing of its future EV fashions round a set of uniform architectures, no matter which model they are going to be offered underneath.

Correspondingly, Stellantis has introduced that every one future EVs will utilise certainly one of 4 platforms, particularly STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Giant, and STLA Body.

Let’s take a look on the technical capabilities of every platform, and what future automobiles we are able to count on from every.

STLA Small

Because the title suggests, STLA Small is designed for compact vehicles, and could also be used for successors to vehicles like as we speak’s Fiat 500 gentle hatch, the Volkswagen Golf-rivalling Peugeot 308 and small SUVs such because the Peugeot 2008.

Stellantis claims automobiles primarily based on the STLA Small platform may have battery capacities starting from 37-82 kWh, facilitating a most vary of 500km, and will likely be powered by, at minimal, an electrical motor producing 70kW of energy mated to a 400V electrical structure.

The corporate says STLA Small-based automobiles may also supply the choice of electrical motors that’ll produce between 125kW and 180kW of energy.

It’s probably any non secular, electrical successor to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta or MiTo would additionally undertake this platform, whereas the STLA Small structure would additionally present a sound foundation for replacements for the Jeep Renegade and Compass SUVs.

STLA Medium

STLA Medium is for automobiles at the very least one measurement up from the compact class, and correspondingly, it additionally provides a step-up in efficiency.

Automobiles primarily based on the STLA Medium structure are anticipated to undertake battery capacities starting from 87-104 kWh, permitting for a most vary of as much as 700km.

Commensurate with its bigger measurement, automobiles primarily based on STLA Medium may also be out there with electrical motors that can every produce between 150kW and 330kW of energy.

This structure might underpin replacements for present fashions just like the Peugeot 508 and Citroen C5 Aircross.

STLA Giant

People love bigger vehicles and globally, the massive premium SUV section additionally stays a profitable income. Bigger automobiles additionally supply higher house to pack in additional batteries and bigger, extra highly effective motors, and resultantly, the STLA Giant platform goals to symbolize the height of Stellantis’ EV engineering experience.

The corporate claims automobiles primarily based on the STLA Giant platform will be capable of supply AWD efficiency and dynamics with acceleration from 0-100 km/h in as little as two seconds, elevating the chance {that a} future electrical Dodge Challenger Demon might rival as we speak’s hottest hypercars in efficiency.

With electrical motors every producing between 125kW and 330kW, that creates the tantalising risk of dual-motor 660kW all-wheel drive powertrains for next-generation efficiency fashions just like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Dodge’s upcoming ‘e-muscle car’.

STLA Giant automobiles may also be capable of help battery capacities from 101-118 kWh, facilitating a most vary of as much as 800km.

It’s potential that a lot of Maserati’s vary might ultimately be primarily based on the STLA Giant structure, together with successors to the present Levante and Quattroporte.

Final yr, Stellantis teased a range of STLA Large-based vehicles for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram automobiles. These included the aforementioned Dodge muscle automotive, in addition to a big sedan, and a variety of SUVs together with a “very succesful” off-roading “whitespace automobile” for Jeep.

It confirmed it’ll introduce eight STLA Giant-based automobiles over the subsequent 3-5 years.

Chrysler has revealed the Airflow concept, which probably previews a brand new EV for the model due in 2025, whereas Ram has confirmed it’ll introduce a Ford Ranger-sized pickup on this platform in 2026.

STLA Body

With electrical utes and pick-up vans such because the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Silverado EV, the Rivian R1T and the forthcoming Tesla Cybertruck all producing important hype, it’s solely pure that Stellantis, by way of its Ram model, would additionally need its spot within the limelight.

Stellantis has introduced an STLA Body structure designed to cater to the wants of industrial quality pickup truck customers and companies that depend on different business automobiles resembling vans.

STLA Body will supply comparable energy outputs and most vary figures in comparison with automobiles primarily based on the STLA Giant structure, however to compensate for the elevated measurement, weight and worse aerodynamics of pick-up vans, may also supply elevated battery sizes ranging to 200 kWh.

Automobiles on this platform will function electrical motors every producing between 150kW and 330kW, and supply vary of as much as 800km.

Stellantis confirmed last year it’ll introduce a rival to the likes of the Ford F-150 Lightning in 2024 known as, reasonably merely, the Ram 1500 BEV.