Nem tão conhecida do grande público, a Karma Automotive chamou a atenção com o seu retorno e lançamento do Karma Revero em 2017. De lá pra cá, a empresa norte-americana tem trabalhado para expandir suas opções, inclusive com iniciativas ousadas como o lançamento da linha de plataformas E-Flex. Agora, a marca divulga o teaser da base "Everyday BEV", prevista para veículos mais em conta e 100% elétricos.
Como esta versão da arquitetura foi projetada para sustentar veículos elétricos acessíveis, ela é muito mais básica que outras variantes. Especificamente, a plataforma "Everyday BEV" tem tração dianteira e acomoda apenas um único motor elétrico.
Galeria: Karma - plataforma E-Flex
Sem dar detalhes sobre a potência do motor elétrico ou a autonomia que os veículos baseados nessa arquitetura poderão alcançar, a Karma afirma que a plataforma foi projetada para acomodar uma bateria de 80 kWh, que é plana e fica acomodada abaixo do assoalho.
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Os planos de produção também não foram detalhados, o que deve ser revelado mais adiante, mas foi adiantado que a plataforma fornecerá um "baixo custo de manutenção" e um "baixo custo por quilômetro rodado". E ainda disseram que a arquitetura poderia servir de base para veículos comerciais e de consumo, variando de sedãs comuns a veículos de entrega.
Ao se referir ao produto, a Karma disse "usando a Plataforma Karma E-Flex, os fabricantes de veículos podem otimizar os custos de desenvolvimento para projetar, testar, certificar e construir uma plataforma EREV ou BEV, permitindo a eletrificação de seus produtos com maior velocidade e velocidade. eficiência." Essa fala deixa em aberto a possibilidade marca estar mais interessada em vender a arquitetura do que produzir seus próprios carros nela. Mais detalhes surgirão em breve.
KARMA AUTOMOTIVE SHOWCASES FULLY-ELECTRIC E-FLEX PLATFORM FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY
- Karma E-Flex platforms support multiple powertrain, packaging and various vehicle applications
- Fully electric platform supports zero-emission and economic transportation of passengers, small cargo and last-mile delivery
- Company’s offering allows proven technology to reach market faster and more efficiently for partner retail sale, fleets and other uses
Irvine, Calif. (May 7, 2020) – Karma Automotive today announced its flexible and modular E-Flex platform with an efficient flat floor battery electric vehicle (BEV) architecture. The new platform is one of five demonstration projects designed to illustrate Karma’s technical direction and capabilities through the use of highly versatile extended range electric vehicle (EREV) and BEV based rolling chassis systems.
Karma’s “Everyday BEV” E-Flex platform is a single motor, flat battery pack, front wheel drive platform with an 80 kWh battery and Karma’s new Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverter e-drive system. Engineered with compact electric architecture in mind, the platform offers an economic total cost of ownership and a low cost-per-mile performance with a range of consumer and commercial applications. The flexible electric platform can be used for everyday sedans, mass-transit and ridesharing, last-mile delivery of goods, and more.
All Karma E-Flex platforms leverage the company’s proprietary technology, manufacturing and design services to offer partners innovative electric mobility solutions. Using the Karma E-Flex Platform, vehicle manufacturers can optimize development costs to engineer, test, certify and build an EREV or BEV platform, allowing electrification of their products with greater speed and efficiency.
“Karma’s goal in creating the ‘Everyday BEV’ platform was to offer an economic solution for service vehicles, ridesharing vehicles, and last-mile delivery vehicles that can benefit from low cost of ownership and sustainable transportation,” said Mike Jones, Director of Chassis Engineering, Karma Automotive. “The Everyday BEV platform provides a host of benefits over traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles including adherence to clean air zones for city driving and quieter transport for passengers.”
The Karma’s E-Flex platform solutions are developed at the Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC), Karma’s state-of-the-art assembly plant in Moreno Valley, Calif. All E-Flex platforms feature proven Karma technology including production Revero GT drive motors in various configurations, gearbox, suspension, subframes and steering, in addition to production body structure parts. Most components have achieved over a million miles of Karma testing and in-market validation, ensuring Karma’s proven knowledge and award-winning vehicle technology are featured in each platform.
The Everyday BEV platform is the latest in a series of development projects featuring the Karma E-Flex Platform. Other Karma E-Flex platform exhibitions recently showcased include the company’s signature EREV platform, a BEV van equipped with SAE®[1] Level 4 autonomous technology, a high-performance platform with supercar-capable architecture and an EREV van platform. Additional components also available include Karma’s new SiC inverters.