Monday, April 10, 2023
By Kamal Swami
Volkwagen To Develop Its EV On MEB+ Platform
German automaker Volkswagen is developing an electric vehicle based on a a new modular electric vehicle platform, called MEB+. This new platform is an advanced and evolved version of the much-hyped MEB architecture. According to Volkswagen, the upcoming MEB+ electric vehicle architecture will take the capabilities of the MEB platform to the next level. This new EV architecture is expected to provide a range of up to 700 km and feature 200 kW fast charging capabilities, which is a significant leap from the existing EV architecture.
Moreover, the MEB+ is expected to have improved charging and storage technology along with enhanced digital infrastructure for connectivity. The new EV architecture will also come with a significant leap in autonomous driving technologies. The German auto giant plans to launch at least ten new electric cars under its core brand by 2026, and these upcoming electric cars are expected to be underpinned by the MEB+ architecture.
Currently, the fastest charging supported by the MEB platform is 135 kW. However, with the implementation of MEB+, Volkswagen aims to expand the model lineup significantly. Volkswagen is also developing its next-generation of battery packs, which will be built using the so-called unit cells or prismatic unified cells, and these advanced battery cells will be key to enhancing the driving range and charging time for the automaker's future electric cars.
In 2019, Volkswagen introduced the MEB platform with the launch of the Volkswagen ID.3. This modular platform currently underpins more than 670,000 electric vehicles across the group, including more than 500,000 Volkswagen EVs alone, while other models come from brands such as Audi, Skoda, and Cupra.
While the automaker has not yet confirmed the timeframe for the launch of the upcoming electric cars under its core brand or whether they will be underpinned by the MEB+ architecture, Volkswagen's pledge to launch at least ten new electric cars by 2026 is a clear indication of the company's commitment to electric mobility.
