International automaker conglomerate, Stellantis, unveiled the first of four scheduled new EV platforms that will soon power many of its future vehicles.
The new STLA Medium platform is destined to underpin a variety of brands under the Stellantis umbrella in the C- and D-segments. In layman’s terms, that means small and midsize family vehicles, including sedans, crossovers and SUVs. Those segments accounted for nearly half of the 78.5 million vehicles sold globally in 2022, the company said in a July 5 statement.
Stellantis’ brands have 26 vehicles in those categories, which are currently built on a variety of platforms. The conglomerate estimates that up to 2 million cars per year can be built on the STLA Medium platform starting this year in Europe.
The platform consists of a modular, high-energy density single-layer battery pack and uses a 400-volt electric architecture, and, depending on the application, consumption can be less than 14 kWh per 100 km.
Owners should be able to charge from 20% to 80% in 27 minutes and get a range of 700 kilometers (435 miles) when used with a performance pack. There will be a standard pack as well, though that is rated at just 500 km (310 miles) on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure.
The cabin heating and cooling system, vehicle braking assist and some steering assist are all designed to minimize the energy consumption.
The vehicles built on the STLA Medium platform will offer a choice of either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with the all-wheel-drive model featuring an additional second electric drive module at the rear. The new platform allows for vehicles with a wheelbase between 106.3-114.2 inches, with overall lengths ranging between 14.1 feet and 16.1 feet. The new models built on the platform will have a ground clearance of more than 8.7 inches to ensure off-road capability and performance, and wheels can be up to 29.5 inches in diameter.
“What we see today is the product of just over two years of no-compromise innovation to deliver clean, safe and affordable mobility, supported by our €30 billion [$33 billion] investment in electrification and software through 2025,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “The STLA Medium platform demonstrates the power of the global Stellantis technical community, delivering products that are hyper-focused on our customers and rewriting long-held assumptions of transportation as we drive for carbon net zero by 2038.”
Future Proof
Stellantis describes the STLA platform as “future-proof,” meaning that it has a modular and inherently flexible wheelbase and comes with the STLA Brain architecture, STLA SmartCockpit and STLA AutoDrive platforms. Those platforms and architecture help enable over-the-air updates to software and enhanced hardware.
The platform is also designed with provisions for future battery chemistries, including nickel- and cobalt-free, as well as solid-state batteries. The company says this will enable it to tailor vehicle capabilities for the ideal balance of cost and performance.
The new platform is part of Stellantis’ grand plan to sell only fully electric cars in Europe by 2030. For the U.S., it hopes 50% of its sales mix will be electric in the same timeframe. The ultimate goal is to achieve carbon net-zero by 2038.
