Jeep EV on the cards for India? Stellantis unveils new STLA Large BEV platform
Stellantis has announced STLA Large, an all-new, highly flexible, BEV-native platform that will serve as the cornerstone for a diverse variety of forthcoming vehicles for worldwide markets in the D and E segments. The STLA Large platform will be BEV-native, which means it is pre-configured for battery-electric cars (BEVs), but it is also a multi-energy platform that can accommodate hybrid and plug-in hybrid motors. Stellantis plans to introduce eight EVs by the end of 2026, based on a new platform, the manufacturer announced while introducing its 'STLA Large' architecture.
The STLA Large platform will be available in single and dual-motor configurations, and it will support a wide range of powertrain types, including all-electric FWD, RWD, and AWD systems. It will handle 85kWh battery packs on base versions and bigger 118kWh packs in high-spec vehicles. However, the platform was created with the interchangeability of battery cell chemistry in mind. According to Stellantis, the 118kWh battery will provide up to 800 kilometres of range in the case of sedans.
The STLA Large is not planned to be a pure 800-volt architecture; 400-volt systems are also possible. With 118kWh, a 400-volt system would result in somewhat long charging times; but, with 85kWh of energy content and a decent 400-volt charging curve, a competitive total package might be developed - at reduced cost.
The 800-volt battery should be capable of charging at a rate of up to 4.5kWh per minute. Stellantis does not, however, give a maximum charge capacity or charging time, nor does it provide any comparison figures for the 400-volt battery.
Stellantis stated that the STLA Large platform is suitable for high-performance cars. In top specifications, all-electric vehicles can accelerate from 0 to 100kmph in the two seconds range.
The STLA Large will be manufactured at numerous factories in Europe and North America and sold worldwide, with eight vehicle launches across five brands scheduled from 2024 to 2026. It will be utilized initially in the North American market on Dodge and Jeep vehicles, followed by Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, and Maserati.
Does this mean that the group will be launching cars on this platform in India too? We suspect the Jeep Compass EV to be made available in a couple of years but that will possibly be on the STLA Medium platform. The Compass EV is still a long way ahead as Jeep will only bring that after they launch the new-gen Compass ICE in India.
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