EV Brief 7/10/21 EV Brief 7/10/21

Stellantis hosts "EV Day", targeting best-in-class electric vehicles across all 14 brands

Stellantis, the parent company of brands including Fiat, Jeep, Citroën and Opel, has hosted its annual “EV Day”, presenting its electrification and investment roadmap for the coming decade.

Stellantis’ EV Day highlighted the automotive group’s future electrification plans.

Stellantis, the parent company of brands including Fiat, Jeep, Citroën and Opel, has hosted its annual “EV Day”, presenting its electrification and investment roadmap for the coming decade.

Stellantis has committed to offering fully electrified solutions across all 14 major brands, utilising four flexible electric-only vehicle platforms, and a family of three scalable electric drive modules and standardised battery packs.

The company noted that affordability is a priority across the group, as the company is targeting price parity with equivalent internal combustion engine vehicles by 2026. Stellantis’ marketing agency also conjured up a number of just plain puzzling statements which are supposed to express each brand’s electrification approach:

Abarth – “Heating Up People, But Not the Planet”

Alfa Romeo – “From 2024, Alfa Becomes Alfa e-Romeo”
Chrysler – “Clean Technology for a New Generation of Families”
Citroën – “Citroën Electric: Well-Being for All!”
Dodge – “Tear Up the Streets… Not the Planet”
DS Automobiles – “The Art of Travel, Magnified”
Fiat – “It’s Only Green When It’s Green for All”
Jeep® – “Zero Emission Freedom”
Lancia – “The Most Elegant Way to Protect the Planet”
Maserati – “The Best in Performance Luxury, Electrified”
Peugeot – “Turning Sustainable Mobility into Quality Time”
Ram – “Built to Serve a Sustainable Planet”
Vauxhall/Opel – “Green is the New Cool”
Commercial Vehicles – “The Global Leader in e-Commercial Vehicles”

Slogans are all well and good (though I’m not sure what, if anything, the above words achieve) but concrete plans and products are what counts.

Stellantis is working on four different platforms; STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large, and STLA Frame. As previously mentioned, a completely modular solution allows for key components to be easily shared across platforms, including drive units and body options.

The platforms will use existing liquid-type battery technology, including a premium high energy-density option and a more affordable nickel cobalt-free alternative, and Stellantis plans to then introduce solid-state technology by 2026. While the company will rely heavily on outside battery suppliers initially, it will also build five battery plants across Europe and North America, and is aiming to reduce battery cost by more than 40 per cent over the next 3 years.

Dodge spriuks “emuscle”, but doesn’t reveal what’s under the cover.

Jeep’s new plug in hybrid Grand Cherokee begins the brand’s slow move to electrification.

For what was allegedly an EV day, Stellantis did not go into electrification plans for each brand. We know European brands in the portfolio already have fully electric models, and a firm commitment to ditch internal combustion engines by 2030 in the case of Fiat, but we also saw a commitment from brands such as Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler to accelerate the electrification of their model ranges.

Stellantis will invest more than 30 billion euros (approximately $35.6 bn USD/$47.5 bn AUD) on vehicle development through the next three years. A lot of this money will be spent on R&D across the group, as well as capital expenditure relating to battery and vehicle manufacturing facilities. Stellantis is also spending big on software, including on its joint venture deal with Foxconn to develop digital cockpits and in-car connected services.

Fiat’s electric only 500 has been a good seller for the brand in Europe.

EV Brief 7/9/21 EV Brief 7/9/21

Jeep reveals plug in hybrid Grand Cherokee 4xe, first of many new EVs in line up by 2025

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee 4xe plug in hybrid has been revealed, the first of many new electrified offerings from the off road brand over the next four years.

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee 4xe plug in hybrid has been revealed, the first of many new electrified offerings from the off road brand over the next four years. During the Stellantis EV Day 2021, the company said in a statement “The introduction of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is another step toward expanding electrification and strengthening the Jeep brand’s vision of “Zero Emission, 100% Freedom” in a year in which the Jeep brand celebrates 80 years of achievements and innovations.”

The unveiling of the Grand Cherokee 4xe follows the launch of the somewhat underwhelming Wrangler 4xe, and the announcement from the automaker of a 4xe charging network, in partnership with Electrify America.

The Wrangler 4xe is powered by a 270-hp (201 kW) turbocharged inline-four that is sandwiched between a 44-hp (33 kW) motor connected through the accessory belt at the front, and a 134-hp motor taking the place of the transmission's torque converter at the back according to Car and Driver . These are paired with a 14 kWh lithium-ion battery. It is not yet known whether the Grand Cherokee 4xe will retain this setup, or whether the vehicle will be sold outside North America.

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EV Brief 3/29/21 EV Brief 3/29/21

Jeep announces 4xe Charging Network to provide EV charging stations

Hot on the heels of Rivian’s announcement of the Rivian Adventure Network, Jeep has partnered with Electrify America to roll out level 2 EV charging stations at Jeep Badge of Honor off-road trailheads around the United States.

The launch of these trailhead chargers coincide with the launch of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid model, and the company states that they will support future fully electric Jeep models. Jeep 4xe charging stations are initially scheduled to open this spring at three of the most-popular off-road sites and icons for the Jeep brand – Moab, Utah; the Rubicon Trail in Pollock Pines, California; and Big Bear, California.

“Electrification opens a new chapter in the Jeep brand story, and it brings an entirely new level of excitement and enjoyment for our enthusiastic owners,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “Key to making Jeep brand the greenest SUV brand is assuring our owners can enjoy the benefits of electric propulsion wherever they go, including the most iconic off-road trails in the country.”

Jeep is working with leading public charging network Electrify America to establish the trailhead charging sites and install the charging equipment. Jeep 4xe owners will be able to login to unlock free charging via a custom mobile app by Electrify America, which also allows drivers to initiate and monitor their charging session.

“It is our goal to provide electric vehicle drivers with the freedom to get to where they want to go – whether it be on a highway or off-road – and we look forward to bringing Jeep enthusiasts along on the journey,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and chief executive officer of Electrify America. “Through the customizable electric vehicle charging offerings of our Electrify Commercial B2B brand, we were able to work with Jeep to identify where their drivers will need charging access most, and make it a reality.”

The jeep Wrangler and an Electrify America solar charger

The Jeep 4xe Charging Network trailhead chargers will deliver Level 2 (240-volt) charging, meaning the 17 kilowatt-hour battery pack in the Jeep Wrangler 4xe can be fully recharged in about two hours, delivering up to 21 miles (33 km) of electric range.

The 4xe charging stations will be either directly connected to the power grid or use solar power to generate electricity, though the company has not stated exactly how much power will be generated by renewables.

We’re not certain how many hybrid Jeep owners would bother to plug in to charge while they’re off-roading or hiking, but it’s a small gesture towards Jeep’s—and Stellantis’—all electric future.