Competition for electric vehicles is fierce, and as electric vehicles are chosen as the way to travel in the future, new power companies such as Tesla, as well as internal combustion engine giants such as Volkswagen and Hyundai, have joined in. In terms of hardware, the biggest difference is that the motor and battery are installed instead of the engine and transmission. Electric vehicles use software to show all the charms that traditional internal combustion engine cars do not have. A typical example is an OTA update. Improve vehicle performance and shortcomings, solved through wireless communication, rather than through 4S shop after-sales.
To meet these advantages, a platform dedicated to electric vehicles is needed. Have a dedicated platform to confirm the battery installation space from the start. As a result, the spacious interior space as well as the luggage space can be expanded. In terms of performance, it is possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle while increasing the stiffness of the body, thus providing excellent stability at high speeds.
In this article, we take stock of the pure electric platform of global automakers at present!
[1] Hyundai Kia E-GMP
Hyundai's pure electric platform E-GMP has been applied to Hyundai, Kia, and Genisais brands. Modular design and assembly are possible, so a single platform does not cover market segments. In addition, we can produce a variety of models, including cars, hatchbacks, and SUVs.
Another feature of it is the ideal open distribution by placing the battery on the bottom of the car. A single charge can guarantee a cruising range of more than 500 kilometers and support 800V ultra-fast charging. In addition, it can go from stationary to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, making it a high-performance model with a top speed of 260 km/h.
The Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60 for Hyundai Motors. Many of hyundai-Kia and Geniseys' future electric vehicles will be manufactured using the platform.
[2] Volkswagen Group MEB
The Volkswagen Group is considered the most active internal combustion engine giant in the electric vehicle market. The MEB platform is also known as the textbook for pure electric vehicle platforms. The battery is placed on the floor of the car body. Thanks to this, the interior is spacious and can improve battery efficiency to increase driving range. It also supports fast charging, so it is possible to charge the battery in a short period of time. The Volkswagen Group announced that it will launch 33 models using the MEB platform by 2030. Total sales of these models are expected to reach 10 million units. In addition, it has developed a strategy to maximize profitability by selling the MEB platform to companies such as Ford.
[3] Volkswagen Group J1
There is also the platform PPE used by Volkswagen Group's electric vehicles, as well as the next-generation high-end electric vehicle platform. Unlike MEB, which targets mass consumers, the J1 platform aims for high performance. First, the batteries are arranged in a T-shape. In this way, the ideal weight distribution at the front and rear and the sporty performance achieved through the low center of gravity are taken care of. Unlike other electric cars, it comes with a two-speed transmission. It can make the speed extremely faster.
Support 800V super fast charging. It is characterized by a slow filler and a fast filler on the left and right sides. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic is used throughout the platform to reduce the weight characteristics of electric vehicles. Models using the platform include the Porsche Taycan and the Audi e-tron GT. Both models are performance-oriented electric vehicles.
[4] Universal BEV3
GM is one of the fastest-moving internal combustion engine brands to the era of electric vehicles. The goal is to recreate the reputation of the past in the era of electric vehicles. GM's electric vehicle platform has grown to the third generation. The platform dedicated to the first generation of electric vehicles is called the EV1. The EV1 is also the model name for GM's first all-electric vehicle to be mass-produced in 1996. The platform dedicated to the second generation of electric vehicles is the BEV2. The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV are both BEV2 platforms.
With the official beginning of the era of electric vehicles, GM launched the BEV3 platform. It features a skateboard-style design in which the battery is placed between the front and rear wheels, a recently popular approach. The platform can be equipped with modular motors and batteries. It is equipped with Ultium batteries that were successfully developed inside GM. The existing BEV2 platform is equipped with the battery of LG Energy Solutions.
Thanks to the application of the modular platform, it can cover a wide range of market segments, from compact cars to high-performance sports cars and pickups. The Cadillac Lyric and Hummer EV are representative models of the platform. The BEV3 platform is also used for the Chevrolet Equinox EV to be released next year. Most of the electric vehicles GM releases next year will be produced on the platform.
[5] Mercedes-Benz EVA
Recently, Mercedes-Benz is introducing several electric vehicles. Following the EQA, EQB and other oil-to-electricity products, models using EQS and EQE-specific platforms for EQS and EQE have been released one after another.
The EVA platform is a pure electric vehicle platform with a modular approach. It shares the suspension and basic structure of the body with the MRA platform used from Class C to Class S. Here, the battery is placed at the bottom of the fuselage to lower the center of gravity.
The EVA platform is not a fully modular platform. As a result, Mercedes-Benz is developing a platform dedicated to new electric vehicles that can cover a wide range from small to large.
[6] Geely SEA
Geely has grown into one of the largest car brands in China and is volvo's largest shareholder. Therefore, the strength of technology research and development is also very strong.
Geely's pure electric platform is called THE SEA Haohan Architecture. The wheelbase can be flexibly adjusted from 1800mm minimum to 3300mm maximum. Therefore, the production of cars from small cars to large cars becomes possible.
Batteries, motors, etc. can be placed freely. It's a high-performance platform that reduces speed from stationary to 100 km/h in 3 seconds or up to 700 km on a single charge. Models using the platform include the Zieker 001.
[7] Toyota e-TNGA
Toyota entered the electric vehicle market late. Recently, it launched the next-generation platform that hosts the brand's future. The name is e-TNGA. The existing TNGA platform was upgraded to an electric vehicle version. It is rugged and lightweight, and can be extended to a wide range of models.
Like most purely electric platforms, it comes in the form of a skateboard mode. The front wheel is equipped with a motor as standard, and a motor can be installed on the rear wheel to achieve four-wheel drive. In addition, it has scalability from small cars to large pickup trucks.
The first model to use the platform was Toyota's bZ4X. Since it is a platform co-produced with Subaru, Subaru will only release it under the name Soltera. Lexus' NX Electric Edition uses the RZ platform.
[8] Renault CMF-EV
Renault is one of the brands that have been struggling lately. As the flagship brand of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Renault shoulders unprecedented responsibility. The CMF platform, which has been in use since 2013, has been specifically improved for electric vehicles.
The CMF-EV platform comes in the form of a skateboard. The platform is divided into "CMF-EV, CMFB-EV, CMFA-EV, KEI-EV, LCV-E" according to the prototype. The platform accommodates most of the models launched worldwide. The biggest feature is the part where the height of the battery can be adjusted. As a result, everything from sports cars to large pickup trucks and SUVs can be produced.
First used in Nissan Ariya, Renault's Megan E-Tech also used the CMF-EV platform.