Stellantis has big ambitions for the new EV platform it has unveiled, the STLA Medium architecture expected to be used by brands as diverse as Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Opel, with the Euro-American automaker expecting to use it for at least 2 million battery-electric vehicles annually.
STLA Medium will be an extremely flexible platform to work with, Stellantis planning to use it for a broad range of compact and midsize — or C- and D-segment — models, including a production version of the Chrysler Airflow. That will include front- and all-wheel-drive vehicles. And though specifically designed for all-electric drivetrain technology, the automaker could modify the platform to use an internal combustion engine in some circumstances.
“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 investment in electrification and software through 2025,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO.
One of four
In all, the automaker plans to introduce four separate EV architectures as it moves forward with its electrification program. These include the STLA Small And STLA Large platforms, as well as the more truck-like STLA Frame. The latter architecture will underpin the Ram 1500 Rev, the all-electric pickup that the automaker unveiled earlier this year.
But that battery-powered pickup won’t reach showrooms until 2024 as a 2025 model. The first model based on the STLA Medium platform, the Peugeot 3008 crossover, will go on sale by the end of this year.
Stellantis has been relatively slow to launch all-electric vehicles, especially when it comes to the North American-based brands it inherited from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. But despite the fact that CEO Tavares has frequently questioned the move to battery power, Stellantis expects to be selling EVs only in Europe by 2030, with battery models accounting for 50% of its U.S. and Canadian sales by then.
STLA Medium will, from a volume perspective, be a lynchpin of that strategy, considering the volume target the automaker has laid out.
A flexible platform
As with the architectures being adopted by competitors such as Tesla, General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota, STLA Medium will use a skateboard-like layout. The battery pack, motors and some other electrical components will be mounted beneath the load floor. That will free up space for passengers and cargo, while also offering more flexibility in terms of design.
Vehicles could be introduced featuring a wheelbase as short at 2,700 millimeters, or as long as 4,900 mm — or 106.3 to 192.9 inches. And they could offer ground clearance of up to 220 mm, or 8.7 inches, a figure that would work well for the Jeep brand.
Powertrain options
STLA Medium will be able to use either one or two separate motors, in either a front-wheel or all-wheel-drive layout. The automaker did not disclose details on the size of the battery packs it could handle, but it noted that such vehicles could deliver up to 700 kilometers, or 435 miles, range. That is based on the global WLTP standard. EPA ratings are typically at least 20% less, however.
Surprisingly, the automaker said the electrical architecture built into the STLA Medium platform will only handle up to 400 volts. Most competitors have begun migrating to 800-volt systems which can speed up charging, among other advantages. But 800-volt technology is still significantly more expensive. It could be added later, according to Sebastien Jacquet, the Stellantis deputy chief technology officer. That’s part of the strategy to make the new architecture “future proof,” the automaker said.
Even at 400 volts, STLA Medium vehicles will be able to add up to 2.4 kilowatt-hours per minute using a public quick charger. That could trim the time for some products to go from a 20% to 80% state-of-charge in as little as 27 minutes, Stellantis noted in a statement.
Production plans
While the architecture is specifically designed for EVs, Jacquet said STLA Medium could be “modified” to adopt an internal combustion engine, according to Automotive News. That would provide opportunities to sell vehicles based on the platform in parts of the world, such as Africa and Latin America, where EVs are expected to take more time to gain traction.
As it begins to roll out, Stellantis plans to convert or add a number of factories to produce vehicles based on STLA Medium. These include existing plants in France, Germany, Italy, the U.S. and Canada. Additional operations could be added in Asia.