The Complete Guide To Electric Vehicle Platforms

We’re nonetheless in the early section of the transition to electrical automobiles. Which means constructing an EV stays an immense technical problem. Producers are allotting with greater than a century of combustion automotive growth and rethinking tips on how to construct a automobile from the bottom, or within the automotive’s case, the platform up. 

There’s nobody proper solution to construct an electrical automobile platform. Automobile corporations have settled on 4 principal growth pathways. 

Devoted EV Platform

This platform is designed particularly for EVs. It permits most design freedom. It’s scalable and modular. It may be bought to different producers. It’s the perfect the place nearly each EV producer needs to be. However getting there requires years of painstaking and costly R&D and not using a assured return on funding — a tricky promote to shareholders. 

Modified Combustion Platform

Name this the “fast and soiled” path to a serviceable EV the place a producer retrofits an present combustion platform. It limits EV design and functionality. It’s usually a developmental lifeless finish. However it’s a solution to get a serviceable EV on the highway expediently and purchase time to determine the broader electrical future. 

Hybrid Platform

Some newer combustion platforms had been designed for powertrain flexibility. The platform can accommodate combustion, EVs or numerous types of hybrid in between. Design and functionality are compromised. However producers, having the ability to construct EVs on the identical line as combustion vehicles, have extra flexibility. 

EV First Platform

It is a devoted EV platform that’s designed for EVs however nonetheless able to implementing combustion, hybrid or range-extending powertrains as wanted. This will likely grow to be a extra well-liked route sooner or later as consumers hedge in opposition to EV skepticism. 

Right here’s a rundown of the EV platforms presently in use in America or revealed to be in growth. 

BMW

CLAR: CLAR stands for BMW Cluster Structure. BMW EVs like the i4 are constructed on this hybrid platform, which additionally underpins BMW combustion vehicles. Efficiency is compromised a bit in comparison with rivals from Mercedes. Although the BMWs counter by wanting like BMWs. 

iX: BMW’s iX crossover runs by itself devoted EV platform, which has been considerably confusingly described as “completely new” but in addition “extremely suitable” with CLAR.

Neue Klasse: The Neue Klasse shall be BMW’s first devoted EV platform. It is going to characteristic extra compact, energy-dense cylindrical battery cells, permitting automobiles to supply extra vary and fastecan accommodate able to accommodating as much as 1,341 hp from a quad-motor system. Neue Klasse ought to launch in 2025 with an X3-sized crossover and 3-Collection-sized sedan. 

Ford

GE1: Ford makes use of the World Electrified 1 platform for the Mustang Mach E. GE1 derives from the combustion C2 platform, which underpins the Ford Escape, Maverick and Brwill likelyThe platform is prone to be a one-off for the Mustang Mach E. Ford used VW’s MEB platform for European EVs and is reportedly creating an up to date GE2 platform.

T3: Ford builds the F-150 Lightning on a revised model of its body-on-frame T3 platform that underpins its standard F-150 pickups. Ford has mentioned it should launch a “Undertaking T3” pickup on a brand new EV platform later this decade. 

Basic Motors

BEV3: BEV3 is GM’s devoted EV platform. It makes use of a skateboard format with GM’s Ultium battery know-how. GM makes use of BEV3 for crossovers like the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV and Chevrolet Equinox EV. The Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX are additionally constructed on BEV3. 

BT1: BT1 is GM’s platform for full-size electrical pickups and SUVs, underpinning automobiles like the GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV. It isn’t associated to the T1 truck platform. BT1 is technically not body-on-frame, although GM says it isn’t a unibody platform. 

Hyundai Motor Group

E-GMP: Hyundai’s Electrical World Modular Platform is a devoted EV platform with a skateboard format. It’s identified for its 800V structure (there’s a 400V for extra inexpensive vehicles just like the Kia EV3) and its lightning-quick 350 kW quick charging. Vehicles primarily based on the E-GMP platform — the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 — have gained the final three World Automobile Awards. 

Photograph by: InsideEVs

Lucid

Lucid Air: The Lucid Air’s platform presents among the most spectacular efficiency and effectivity on the EV market with its 924-volt structure and effectively packaged powertrain. It delivers greater than 500 miles of vary (the perfect in the marketplace) in its best type and may speed up from 0-60 mph in as little as 2.5 seconds. 

Mercedes-Benz

EVA2: EVA2 is the present Mercedes-Benz EV platform. It’s a devoted EV platform, offering the idea for the EQS and EQE sedans and SUVs. It’s a 400V structure providing as much as 200 kW quick charging. 

MMA: MMA is Mercedes Modular Structure. It’s a brand new platform designed primarily for smaller electrical automobiles (although it gained’t be completely electrical). It debuted with the Idea CLA. It is going to help an 800V structure with as much as 250 kW quick charging. 

AMG.EA: Mercedes-Benz is constructing a high-performance AMG EV with its personal platform. It is going to use high-power, light-weight axial flux motors from Yasa and a high-voltage, high-performance battery. Count on automotive and SUV variations.

VAN.EA: Mercedes-Benz is creating a brand new modular electrical van platform, VAN.EA. It will likely be used for industrial and private automobiles, with Mercedes-Benz planning to launch a brand new camper van line and a mid-size luxurious van within the U.S.

Nissan

CMF-EV: The Nissan Ariya makes use of the CMF-EV platform, a modified model of the CMF (Widespread Module Household) platform utilized by different Nissan automobiles. It’s a 400V structure providing as much as 130 kW quick charging. 

Nissan EV Platform: The Nissan Leaf makes use of an older EV platform primarily based on the Nissan B platform. It’s the solely EV nonetheless utilizing a CHAdeMO plug for quick charging. 

Rivian

Rivian Skateboard: Rivian launched two automobiles on its preliminary R1 skateboard EV platform, the R1T pickup and R1S three-row SUV. Rivian refreshed each automobiles for 2025, with each providing a most EPA vary above 400 miles, together with spectacular off-road functionality and the flexibility to speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. 

Rivian Midsize: Rivian unveiled a brand new smaller midsize platform to underpin new R2, R3 and R3X automobiles, which is able to begin to roll out in 2026. The brand new vehicles shall be smaller than the R1 lineup, providing much less functionality and vary. However they need to be dramatically cheaper, with the R2 beginning round $45,000 and the R3 slotting beneath it.

Rolls-Royce

Structure of Luxurious: The Rolls-Royce Spectre runs on the Structure of Luxurious platform (sure, that’s really the title), which types the idea for Rolls-Royce’s combustion fashions. The Spectre packs twin BMW electrical motors, placing out 577 horsepower and offers as much as 291 miles of vary. 

Stellantis

STLA: Stellantis unveiled 4 STLA (pronounced “Stella,” Marlin Brando exclamation non-compulsory)  platforms: Small, Medium, Massive and Body. The corporate calls them EV-first or EV-native platforms, designed for EVs however suitable with combustion and hybrid engines. The Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger Daytona will use the STLA Massive platform. The Ram 1500 REV and Ramcharger trip on the STLA Body truck platform. 

Toyota

e-TNGA: e-TNGA is the electrical model of Toyota’s New World Structure platform. It underpins the Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ and Subaru Solterra. The vehicles have been praised for his or her driving dynamics and ripped for vary and charging tech nicely beneath the usual opponents provide. Toyota is reportedly engaged on a devoted EV platform to switch it. 

Photograph by: Dustin Liu

Tesla

Mannequin S/Mannequin X: Tesla’s first ground-up EV after the roadster was the Mannequin S full-sized sedan. The model adopted that up with an SUV primarily based on it, the three-row Mannequin X. These automobiles, launching in 2013 and 2016, respectively, are nonetheless being bought, albeit with substantial updates. 

Mannequin 3/Mannequin Y: Tesla moved downmarket with the smaller, cheaper Mannequin 3 and adopted that up with the Mannequin Y crossover model. Tesla moved to streamline manufacturing with this platform. At launch, the Mannequin Y shared greater than 70% of its parts with the Mannequin 3.

Cybertruck: Tesla’s third automobile is the Cybertruck. It’s a unibody truck platform. The Cybertruck is the primary Tesla to improve to an 800V structure, although it fees at related pace to 400V opponents.

Volkswagen Group

MEB: Volkswagen’s Modular Electrical Toolkit is VW’s first devoted EV platform used for extra inexpensive EVs. It’s a modular skateboard platform with a flat flooring, permitting ample cargo and passenger house. It’s the idea for the Volkswagen ID.4, ID. Buzz and Audi This autumn E-Tron. Ford makes use of it for crossovers in Europe. 

MLB Evo: Audi’s first EV, now referred to as the Q8 E-Tron, runs on MLB Evo, a modified model of Volkswagen’s MLB combustion platform, used for vehicles like the Lamborghini Urus and the Porsche Cayenne. 

J1: J1 is a high-performance sporty EV platform utilized by Porsche for the Taycan and Audi for the E-Tron GT. The J1 platform presents an 800V structure and as much as 270 kW quick charging. 

PPE: Premium Platform Electrical is a brand new modular platform developed for Porsche and Audi. It’s supposed for bigger EVs and is debuting with the Porsche Macan EV and Audi Q6 E-Tron. Just like the J1 platform, PPE has an 800V structure. It might additionally characteristic a “efficiency rear axle” with the rear motor located additional again for rear-biased driving dynamics. 

SSP: Scalable Methods Platform is the next-gen modular EV platform from VW Group. It’s supposed to switch MEB and different platforms, bringing in better standardization to cut back prices. The SSP rollout has been delayed till the late 2020s. 

Photograph by: Volvo

Volvo/Polestar

CMA: CMA, Compact Modular Structure, is Volvo’s midsize automotive platform used for electrical and combustion fashions. It underpins the Polestar 2 and the Volvo’s XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge automobiles. 

SPA2: SPA2, Scalable Product Structure 2, is Volvo’s devoted EV platform, debuting with the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 crossovers. The vehicles have a 400V structure that gives as much as 250 kW of quick charging. Volvo has mentioned it’s creating a extra succesful SPA3 structure to switch it.