Advantages of the modular EV platform approach
- Tailored to vehicle performance needs. A modular EV platform can be assembled as per customer specifications. ...
- Flatbed assembly. Skateboard platform, initially developed by General Motors almost two decades ago, has become a popular modular EV platform approach amongst manufacturers like Tesla, Rivian, and Byton.
- Supports a variety of body designs. ...
What is a modular EV platform?
A modular EV platform is a native, purpose-built architecture that makes the manufacturing of EVs more efficient in the long term as it is simpler to assemble and can save up to USD 600 per vehicle. By keeping EV platforms flexible, companies can increase or reduce the production of a particular drivetrain according to demand.
Why do companies choose modular design and platforms?
With the right setup, platforms and modularity lead to more choices and higher profits—not more headaches and higher costs. Modular designs and product platforms strategies enable companies to build a broader portfolio of offerings for customers, including niche products at acceptable cost, at less effort.
What is the future of the modular electric drive system?
From electric drive to digitalization and autonomous driving: The development of the modular electric drive system (MEB) is an investment in the future of mobility. By 2028, Volkswagen intends to use the platform for around 15 million vehicles across the Group.
What are the electric vehicle platforms?
The platforms are designed to be modular and working with combustion, hybrid, and EV powertrains, even allowing for all three to be assembled on the same production line. BMW is developing a dedicated EV architecture, but it may not arrive until 2025. GE1: Ford Global Electrified 1 Platform. Ford developed a new platform for the Mustang Mach E.
What is a EV platform?
A platform is a basic frame of a vehicle, without a power unit (an engine or a motor), a chassis, or a body. Thus, only car manufacturers have developed and produced platforms so far. Any platform is required to be safe and reliable, and serves as an important element that affects the car manufacturer's strategy.
What are the advantages of MEB?
That's because this newly developed vehicle platform is designed specifically for electric cars. The key benefit of this is that the MEB can be used to make the most out of the possibilities offered by this technology. For you, this means a gain in space, variability, range, comfort, convenience and dynamics.
How much does an EV platform cost?
In addition to the fully converted EVs above, Zero Labs offers a lone platform conversion that will now feature the third-generation version. The company admitted that many of its orders for full EVs and for 2022 and 2023 have already been signed, despite their $350k average price tag.
What is EV advantages and disadvantages?
Top pros and cons of electric carsPros of electric carsCons of electric carsElectric cars are energy efficientElectric cars can't travel as farElectric cars reduce emissions"Fueling" takes longerElectric cars require lower maintenanceElectric cars are sometimes more expensiveJan 31, 2022
What cars use the MEB platform?
It is used in models of Audi, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen. The architecture is aimed to "consolidate electronic controls and reduce the number of microprocessors, advance the application of new driver-assistance technology and somewhat alter the way cars are built" by the VW Group.
What is modular electric drive Matrix?
Designed as an open vehicle platform, the MEB (Modular Electric Toolkit) allows car manufacturers to electrify their portfolio quickly and cost-effectively.
Which platform is best for car?
Top 5 platforms to buy used cars in IndiaCars24. CARS24 makes selling a car an easy, fair and quick process offering an efficient and reliable way to car owners to sell their cars at the best price. ... Droom. ... Carwale. ... CarDekho. ... Truebil.
How do you profit from electric cars?
The two key ways to invest in electric vehicles are to buy the stock of automakers that focus on making EVs, such as Tesla, or buy an exchange-traded fund that invests primarily in companies tied to EVs.
What can be done to reduce EV price?
Incentivizing reverse logistics, reuse for stationary usage (grid, invertor, RE storage), recycling of batteries, and recovery of critical metals / materials. E. Standardization – Battery standards, Testing standards, etc. to prevent the entry of non-standardized batteries in market and promote investments.
What are 3 benefits of electric cars?
Advantages of Electric VehiclesNo fuel required so you save money on gas. Paying $0.10 per kW is the equivalent of driving on gasoline that costs less than $1 per gallon. ... Environmental friendly as they do not emit pollutants. ... Lower maintenance due to an efficient electric motor. ... Better Performance.
Why is EV important?
Electric vehicles use electricity to charge their batteries instead of using fossil fuels like petrol or diesel. Electric vehicles are more efficient, and that combined with the electricity cost means that charging an electric vehicle is cheaper than filling petrol or diesel for your travel requirements.
Why EV is not the future?
The batteries in electric vehicles put them at the top list affecting the environment. Like all car parts, those batteries will need to be replaced after some time if you want to keep your car on the road.
What is the point of an EV platform?
The whole point of an EV platform is that it doesn't have to be complex. You have the skateboard platform and have a blank canvas. It will afford you many more advantages.".
What is purpose built EV?
Purpose-built EV platforms are lower in material cost and allow better performance in range, acceleration, and interior space. They do, however, come with additional investments in new, standalone platforms leading to higher fixed-cost allocation – especially when produced in lower volumes.
Why do OEMs collaborate with other OEMs?
At a time when OEMs face the possibility of retooling numerous models and platforms for electrification, collaborating with other OEMs can reduce the fixed-cost burden of R&D, tooling, and plants. Benefits will be especially high if OEMs can share EV platforms and plants, which can still enable multiple model variants.
How much did Volkswagen invest in MEB?
Having chosen to avoid the complexity of a dual-purpose platform the Volkswagen Group has invested $7bn in the MEB, supporting the manufacture of everything from compact cars to large minivans. Using many of the same parts to speed up the crucial economies of scale the company believes the strategy will enable it to make EVs profitably.
How does keeping platforms flexible help companies?
What is more, by keeping platforms flexible, companies can increase or reduce production of a particular drivetrain according to demand.
How much money can an EV save?
According to McKinsey’s 2019 report “ Making electric vehicles profitable ” a purpose-built EV platform is simpler to assemble and could deliver up to $600 in savings per vehicle in lower fixed-cost allocation. These savings stem from having fewer components to assemble in an optimized EV platform and requiring less capital expenditure in EV-only plants, versus complex plants that combine ICE-vehicle and EV lines.
Why are EV prices so high?
Even though many industry insiders point to the high, but rapidly decreasing, battery costs as the main reason for higher EV prices, many manufacturers are finding ways to compensate for these costs; including designing the EV on a modular and scalable, dedicated platform.
What are the advantages of MEB?
1. The cost-intensive production of e-autos becomes more favourable for all suppliers, because high quantities can be achieved with common and multiple use of the MEB. In order to reduce the high costs for the development of electric cars, Volkswagen is now offering its MEB technology ...
What is the MEB platform?
The shared MEB platform contribute s to meeting the Paris climate change agreement. In order to meet the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement, the German transport sector would have to reduce CO 2 emissions by 40 to 42 percent by 2030.
Why is Volkswagen offering MEB?
In order to reduce the high costs for the development of electric cars, Volkswagen is now offering its MEB technology platform to other car manufacturers. "The more cars based on the platform, the cheaper they will be," says Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group. This is an important prerequisite ...
What is MEB in automotive?
The MEB offers more space for e-mobility and the vehicles of the future on a smaller or comparable area. With the MEB, everything is optimally matched to the requirements of electromobility. The axles are offset far apart, ensuring short overhangs. There is no combustion engine that takes up space.
Native EV or modified ICE design?
Among electric vehicles on the road today, some are native, or purpose-built EV designs, while others are modified versions of internal combustion engine (ICE) designs. For new vehicles entering the market, native designs offer more potential for success—with EV-optimized chassis and the advantages of modular components.
The importance of modularity
For flexibility, versatility, and economies of scale, modularity is essential. With a modular EV design, different vehicle models can share the same platform or components. This can accelerate development and provide manufacturing efficiencies, resulting in significant cost savings.
The skateboard platform: a fast track to proven performance
The simplicity of EV—as compared with ICE—powertrains allows for a whole new approach to vehicle platform design. The low, flat “skateboard” platform, with an integrated battery platform and chassis, can be the basis for a wide variety of vehicle designs. Its flexibility allows unique vehicle designs, with enhanced performance.
Modular kits and subassemblies: flexibility comes with integration complications
Using modular kits and subassemblies can save design and development time. Typical modules include battery-pack subassemblies that are mated to front and rear suspensions. Using a kit-type approach can provide design flexibility without the constraints of a skateboard’s fixed dimensions.
Underfloor battery design pros and cons
The majority of EVs on today’s market package their batteries under the floor (as in the typical skateboard platform, above). Some put batteries in unused interior space behind the front seat and in the rear compartment.
Stacked battery design pros and cons
A stacked battery design is an alternative to underfloor batteries. Stacked batteries are, in general, placed in a grid or row, or their placement may be adapted to the vehicle’s floor. Design options for battery stacks depend on the configuration of the battery cells themselves; the most common cells are cylindrical.
Other trends
As the electric vehicle market matures, there are additional trends and considerations that EV developers need to be aware of:
What is platform modularization?
Platform modularization and standardization enable rapid and flexible development depending on customer needs
What is a battery platform?
The platform secures battery safety through a battery support structure made of ultra-high strength steel. Hot-stamped steel components surround this structure for additional rigidity. Collision energy can be absorbed efficiently thanks to energy-absorbent sections of the body and chassis, effective energy load paths, and a central section of the battery pack tightly bound to the vehicle body.
How many high power charging stations does Hyundai have?
IONITY operates 298 high-power charging (HPC) stations – using a charging capacity of up to 350 kW – along highways in European countries. The company plans to increase this number to 400 HPC stations by 2022, including 53 currently under construction.
How long does it take for a BEV to charge?
Moreover, it can high-speed charge up to 80 percent in just 18 minutes and can add up to 100km of driving range in just five minutes.
When will Hyundai launch the ioniq?
As part of its BEV vision, Hyundai Motor Company launched its dedicated ‘IONIQ’ BEV brand in August 2020, which includes three dedicated BEV models, the IONIQ 5,6 and 7 by 2024. This currently covers various vehicle segments.
How fast is a high performance car?
High performance model based on E-GMP will accelerate from zero to 100kph in less than 3.5 seconds, with top speed of 260kph
How long does a V2L work?
The new V2L function can supply up to 3.5kW of power and operate a mid-sized air conditioner unit and a 55-in ch television for up to 24 hours.
What is a dedicated EV platform?
Dedicated EV Platforms: Most manufacturers are (or will be) moving to dedicated EV platforms over the next decade. These are basically skateboards consisting of wheels and a battery pack, and offer maximum design flexibility. They are expensive and time-consuming to develop, but once a manufacturer has a purpose-built EV platform, it’s relatively straightforward and cheap to design new vehicles from it. This is why you have some companies taking a long time to get their first EV out the door, but are still pledging to have 10-25 of them at dealers by 2025.
How to make an EV?
On a basic level, there are three ways for manufacturers to create an EV: 1 Retrofitting: Manufacturers modify existing internal combustion architecture to build an electric car. It’s the simplest and quickest method to build an EV, and the process has become a lot more sophisticated in the days since Tesla dumped batteries into a Lotus Elise chassis to build its Roadster. But it’s still an ad hoc method, and can be a dead-end for future development. 2 Hybrid Platforms: Many modern car architectures have been designed to pair with modular combustion, hybrid, and pure electric powertrains. On the plus side, this gives the manufacturer a lot of flexibility to adjust to the market —ut on the EV front, it limits design choices by forcing them into the strictures of combustion platforms. 3 Dedicated EV Platforms: Most manufacturers are (or will be) moving to dedicated EV platforms over the next decade. These are basically skateboards consisting of wheels and a battery pack, and offer maximum design flexibility. They are expensive and time-consuming to develop, but once a manufacturer has a purpose-built EV platform, it’s relatively straightforward and cheap to design new vehicles from it. This is why you have some companies taking a long time to get their first EV out the door, but are still pledging to have 10-25 of them at dealers by 2025.
What is a MEB?
MEB: VW's "modular electric toolkit." This platform will underpin RWD and AWD ID range vehicles that will fulfill Volkswagen's pledge to build electric cars for the millions, not the millionaires. The platform is designed to be low-cost and flexible for affordable EVs. VW will license it to other manufacturers such as Ford.
What is Nissan EV?
Nissan EV Platform: This is a front-motor, FWD platform Nissan first developed for the Leaf in 2010.
What is GE1 in Ford?
GE1: Ford Global Electrified 1 Platform. Ford developed a new platform for the Mustang Mach E. It's a substantially altered version of the C2 platform Ford uses in the Escape, the Bronco Sport, the Lincoln Corsair and the Focus. It supports RWD and AWD.
What is PPE in cars?
PPE: Premium Performance Electric. This platform has both high and low-floor variations, and will be used to underpin cars and crossovers like the Porsche Macan and much of the Audi lineup.
How many ways can manufacturers create an EV?
On a basic level, there are three ways for manufacturers to create an EV:
What is modular design?
Modular designs and product platforms strategies enable companies to build a broader portfolio of offerings for customers, including niche products at acceptable cost, at less effort. But to capture these advantages, companies must choose the right organizational design for their product development function as well as manage it strategically.
What is a platform module?
Platforms and modules are typically defined as standardized parts or a catalog and are described in module books. 1 They enable companies to benefit from production scale, by reducing the number of product variants and thereby reducing complexity and its associated costs along their value chain (for example, in product development, materials, manufacturing, and spare parts).
What is a modularity steering committee?
Companies can set up a new, cross-functional organizational structure—a modularity steering committee—to resolve these problems. The committee analyzes change requests and uses a disciplined process to determine which (if any) changes should be reflected as updates in platform and module books.
What is a modular strategy lead?
Modular strategy lead defines the company's overall strategy for where to apply modules in product architecture and where to apply product-specific solutions. With module leads and platform leads, he or she ensures that modules are applied without changes.
Why are new modules introduced?
New modules may be introduced only if they are legally required or if the committee can show that they will deliver positive business results. For instance, perhaps adapting a module to regional taste would help the company capture higher market share in a region while requiring a few new variants. In this case, the committee might decide to update modules to reflect the change and to develop a new or altered variant with standard interfaces. If an innovation would involve intensive modifications to variants and thus high levels of complexity and cost, the committee will have to consider whether the innovation is critical enough to justify the additional effort and cost.
What are the challenges of a platform/modular strategy?
In addition to having to create new roles and redefine existing ones, companies transitioning to a platform/modular strategy also face two key challenges: managing platform and module changes as well as innovation, while ensuring use of standards. Below, we offer insights into how companies can surmount these challenges.
What is the role of module lead in product development?
Why? The module lead ensures scale and innovation while the platform lead ensures optimal architecture and integration of the modules as well as circulation of feedback to module leads (Exhibit 3). For the overall success of a product, companies must also strike the right balance between commonality and differentiation across products. The portfolio strategy lead, along with the modular strategy lead in collaboration with platform and module leads, shoulders this responsibility.
What is the advantage of replacing an IC engine with an electric drivetrain?
As well as the obvious advantage of replacing the IC engine with an electric drivetrain and battery pack, the real key to the development of the platform is the availability of X-by-wire technology. Electronic control of the motors, steering, braking and suspension allows these elements to be separated, opening up the flexibility of the platform.
How many kW motors does Foxconn use?
Although the skateboard is a unibody construction, Foxconn uses a modular approach with a choice of 150, 200 or 240 kW motors at the front with a 340 kW motor at the rear, and supplies all the drive-by-wire and driver assistance electronic control systems.
