Stellantis and Qinomic, a high-tech firm focusing on creative and sustainable mobility solutions, are collaborating on a proposal for converting internal combustion engines in light commercial vehicles to an electric powertrain. The idea is to keep the manufacturer's quality and specifications, such as safety, durability, and type certification, intact.
"I am delighted that Stellantis is working with Qinomic on developing this retrofit technology," said Alison Jones, senior vice president of Stellantis' circular economy business unit. "Thanks to this breakthrough, our business customers will be able to turn their current van into an electric one. This will make the van last longer and meet legal and mobility requirements."
The Stellantis Circular Economy Business Unit's primary aim is to extend the life and useful life of vehicles. The business unit leads this program in collaboration with the commercial vehicle division and the Stellantis Ventures Studio.
The electric retrofit solution is intended to provide freedom of mobility by providing an inexpensive option that fits customer expectations for extended vehicle life while ensuring customers' ability to continue commercial activities by providing access to urban environmental zones.
The European environmental zones have expanded by 40% in the last three years, according to the EIT's "Urban Mobility Report" [1]. As a result, it will continue to rise as stronger limitations on automobile access to cities are implemented. The "Green Deal" in Europe, a plan to stimulate the shift to greener vehicles and cleaner mobility, is the catalyst for this increase.
The electric retrofit is a cheap and environmentally friendly option for people who want to lower the total cost of ownership of their cars while keeping them.
Stellantis's Senior Vice President of the Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Xavier Peugeot, said, "The retrofit technology will strengthen Stellantis's leadership in zero-emission mobility solutions for business customers and add to our portfolio of electric vans."
The project demonstrates Stellantis' dedication to innovation and readiness to rely on partners who support the company's electrification strategy. Stellantis' approach to reducing carbon emissions is the best in the business, and the company's Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan sets the lofty goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2038.
"We are thrilled about our new strategic alliance with Stellantis," said Frédéric Strady, co-founder and CEO of Qinomic. "It is an important step in Qinomic's advancement that will help us deliver some of the innovative technology solutions we are developing for creating, completing, and deploying the aftermarket."
After this joint development is finished successfully in 2023 and customers are happy with how the demo vehicles work, the implementation and commercial launch will start in France in 2024.
"In a market driven by last-mile demand, existing light-duty vehicle owners will soon need to find a solution to the zero-emission vehicle transition," said Eric Laforge, Stellantis' Vice President of Commercial Vehicles in the Greater Europe Region. "Stellantis addresses this tendency with this type of retrofit technology."
