EV Platform Market

[233 Pages Report] The EV platform market is estimated to grow from USD 9.0 billion in 2022 to USD 68.0 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 28.7% over the forecast period. Increase in demand for electric vehicles globally, a shift from conventional ICE vehicles to electric vehicles, continuously declining prices of Li-ion batteries, and ease of development and use the EV platforms compared to electric vehicle models. Strict vehicular emission regulations and a rise in sales of electric vehicles drive the development of the EV platform market during the forecast period.

High cost is required to develop an electric vehicle modular platform; the excessive flexibility this platform offers will offset this investment through economies of scale. Moreover, the initial investment, effort, and amount of time required to develop and manufacture different battery electric vehicles on an EV platform are comparatively less compared to other platforms.

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Market Dynamics

DRIVER: Benefits of modular EV platform over conventional chassis

EV platform and electric vehicle prices depend on the prices of batteries; battery cost is around 40% of the electric vehicle cost. This cost is directly proportional to battery capacity. Initially, the prices for large-capacity batteries were high. However, prices have reduced over time, making high-capacity batteries more affordable for end-users. Various policies and economies have led to a reduction in the battery cost/kWh. As the production of batteries increases, there are more opportunities and government incentives to achieve innovations. Therefore, prices often fall when battery technologies begin to scale. In 2020, Niti Aayog sought approval to build up to 10 large factories that would get subsidies to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. This would help in the overall price reduction of batteries in India. Research is underway to increase the pack size of batteries to support EV platforms and reduce costs.

A high cost is required to develop an electric vehicle modular platform. This platform's excessive flexibility will offset this investment through economies of scale. Moreover, the initial investment, effort, and time required to develop and manufacture battery electric vehicles on an EV platform are comparatively less than other platforms. According to Honda Motor, developing one EV model requires about USD 455 million, with batteries alone accounting for about 40–50% of the production cost. Converting production lines to cater to EVs costs about USD 73 million to USD 110 million per factory.

According to industry experts, electric vehicle manufacturing companies are not making more profit by manufacturing electric vehicles; each car costs USD 12,000 more than an ICE vehicle. Furthermore, a purpose-built EV platform is simpler to assemble and could deliver up to USD 600 in savings per vehicle in lower fixed-cost allocation. Therefore, the EV platform helps reduce the cost of manufacturing each model, and hatchbacks, sedans, and utility vehicles can be built on a single modular platform. However, high initial investment is required to develop a scalable and modular EV platform. The flexibility offered by the platform is expected to offset the initial investment through economies of scale.

With the billion-dollar requirement for factories to build electric vehicles, customers can take the chassis and assemble the body close to the customer site. Manufacturing electric vehicles from modular EV platforms instead of conventional ones is expected to open different ways to build and service EVs. The modular EV platform design allows different elements to be easily and quickly replaced. Few modules can be kept for store servicing, simplifying the inventory and supply chain requirements.

The advantage of converting the conventional chassis to EV platforms is the availability of x-by-wire technology. The electronic control of steering, suspension, motors, and braking allows these components to be separated, opening up the platform's flexibility. These platforms are helpful for the development of passenger cars and commercial vehicles during the forecast period.

RESTRAINT: High initial investment for developing EV platforms

In electric vehicles, the size of a battery pack depends on the driving range, and the battery size influences the cost of the battery. The big battery size complicates the body and chassis design of the electric vehicle platform. Consequently, electric vehicles are more expensive than their ICE counterparts. Battery replacement cost is another critical factor in determining the total cost. The service life of a battery is much lesser than that of an electric vehicle platform. Therefore, the battery needs to be replaced at least once or twice in the electric vehicle platform's working life depending on the operating conditions. Battery life depends on parameters such as distance traveled per day, annual distance, operating temperature, charging level, and charging rate.

The cathode price largely affects the price of the batteries because raw materials such as cobalt, nickel, lithium, and magnesium are expensive. The cost of developing higher-range EVs is significantly higher due to the requirement of higher specification batteries, advanced technology used for production, and highly expensive components used in the vehicles.

The development cost of infrastructure for EVs is also high. The battery of an EV needs frequent and fast charging through additional equipment, such as electric chargers, which are only available at EV charging stations. The battery, charger, and installation costs add to the cost of the EV platform, making them costlier than traditional ICE vehicles. Despite several benefits of electric vehicle platforms, such as environmental friendliness and low fuel expenses compared with diesel vehicles, the high initial cost of EV platforms has emerged as one of the major barriers to their mass adoption.

OPPORTUNITY  Preference for high-voltage and long-distance range EV platforms

The major development area in EV platforms is the driving range on a single charge. With improvements in EV battery technology, OEMs are working on developing long-range EV platforms. This will make EV platforms more viable as part of the commercial vehicle sector in the coming years. The development of solid-state battery technology will further increase the range of electric vehicles by 2028. The mass production of solid-state batteries will begin by 2028, reducing their price and making them suitable for electric vehicles.

Various companies are also working on the development of long-range EV platforms. In September 2021, BYD Company Ltd. (China) launched a new e-platform 3.0 for electric vehicles. The company also developed a new Ocean-X concept, a mid-sized sedan built upon the company’s new EV platform. The new e-platform 3.0 is expected to enable a range of more than 1000 kilometers, boast acceleration of 0–100 km/h in only 2.9 seconds and a 20% increase in the thermal efficiency of the batteries. In December 2022, Volkswagen Group (Germany) launched the MEB+ platform with development in charging, digital infrastructure, and storage technology. The MEB+ platform consists of unit cell batteries enabling improved charging times with charging speeds of 175 to 200 kW and an EV range of up to 700 km. 

According to industry experts, the automotive OEMs and tier 1 suppliers in the automotive industry are adopting the 800V standard around 2025. Hyundai (South Korea) launched its E-GMP platform, which can charge up to 80% in 18 min. Power electronic companies are developing onboard chargers, DC-DC converters, and investors to enhance powertrain efficiency, improve range, and reduce battery pack capacity. The greater efficiencies are achieved using transition silicon carbide MOSFETs and high voltage vehicle platforms. General Motors, Hyundai, BYD Company Ltd., and Nissan announced 800V EV platforms that are expected to adopt silicon carbide MOSFETs in their power electronics by 2025. Recently, STMicroelectronics launched new high-power silicon carbide (SiC) modules for EV platforms, boosting the performance and driving range. Therefore, developments in range and voltage offer lucrative opportunities for EV platform manufacturers during the forecast period.

CHALLENGE: Long charging time compared with other fuels

An EV charging time is much higher than the fuelling time of fuel alternatives. Level 1 and 2 charging can take 8–16 hours, whereas level 3 charging can take ~20 mins to charge an EV. This is much higher than diesel or CNG fuelling, which takes less than 5 mins. The prolonged charging time is a primary reason for the slow growth of electric vehicle platforms. In the coming years, technological breakthroughs will reduce charging time, but the battery will need to be developed for fast, high-voltage charging. Commercial electric vehicles take longer to charge than other EVs due to the presence of more/larger battery packs to increase their range and payload capacity. This is because the per-mile electricity consumption of commercial electric vehicles is higher than that of electric cars. However, companies are now working toward developing commercial vehicles with faster charging. Tesla’s upcoming Semi was announced to take around 40 mins to charge using superchargers by 2021 fully.

The amount of time spent charging EV batteries proves to be a deterrent to market growth. EV battery chargers range from 3.7 KW slow chargers to 50 KW rapid chargers, with a few EV cars being compatible with chargers up to 150 KW. However, the charging time varies across batteries due to other factors, such as battery capacity and energy density. Long-range and high-power vehicles need more charging time than small-range and low-power vehicles. For example, a 75-kWh battery might take as long as 21 hours to charge from empty to full on a 3.7 KW slow charger. The charging rate must also be limited due to the risk of overheating and fire. Such issues pose a big disadvantage to EVs compared to traditional ICE vehicles.

Batteries segment is projected to dominate the EV platform market in 2030

Batteries is expected to be the largest market by value due to EV batteries accounting for a major part of EV platform cost. Companies like Samsung SDI, LG Chem, CATL, SK Innovation, BYD, and Panasonic have been providing batteries for use in EVs over the years. They account for a major part of the EV battery demand in the market. Tesla and BYD use in-house build EV batteries for their electric vehicles. The demand for EV batteries will be the highest in the Asia Pacific due to China being the world’s largest EV market. Thus, with the rise in the adoption of advanced integrated technologies for EV platforms, the demand for EV batteries would also rise. CATL unveiled its Qilin Battery, the third generation of its CTP (cell-to-pack) technology. It delivers a range of 1,000 km and has an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg. The Qilin Battery is expected to be mass-produced in 2023.  Such developments are responsible for the growth of the EV platform during the forecast period.

North America is estimated to have the largest market in 2030

The leading countries, such as the US and Canada, are considered under the North American region. North America is a regional hub for renowned OEMs that deliver quality and high-performance vehicles. For instance, Tesla and General Motors focus on developing faster, cleaner, and high-performance electric vehicles. The electric vehicle market in this region is also growing rapidly, with many automakers investing in developing electric vehicles and related technologies. The North American automaker, Ford, announced plans to develop EV platforms. It has already launched one and invested in research and development to improve its electric vehicle technology.

The region is also home to many top EV Platform manufacturers, such as General Motors (US), Ford Motor Company (US), and Rivian Automotive Inc. (US). These companies and other foreign players have worked together to provide for the EV platform demand in the region.

The US is projected to dominate the North American EV platform market by 2030. The US automotive industry is highly inclined towards innovation, technology, and the development of safe and comfortable automobiles. The EV market in the US has been vibrant as not just major automakers are coming into the market, but also many new-age startups have contributed significantly to the market. The US gives USD 7,500 tax credits that reduce the cost of EVs in the region. Around 45 of its states have varying policies for increasing EV demand and setting up EV charging stations across their region. The country encourages electric vehicles for fleet services in many of its states.

California has the largest EVs in the country due to its mass popularization and large tax for ICE vehicles in the state. Some other major states that have popularized EVs include New York, Florida, Texas, Washington, Georgia, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, Iowa, Maine, and North Carolina. The growing EV demand and the adoption of integrated EV components will propel the EV platform market in the US. Companies such as General Motors (US), Ford Motor Company (US), Rivian Automotive inc. (US), Canoo (US), and others have come up with their EV platform solutions in commercial and passenger segments. Considering the same, the US will have a good growth rate in the future.

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Key Market Players

The EV platform market is dominated by a few globally established companies such as Volkswagen Group (Germany), Ford Motor Company (US), General Motors (US), Hyundai Motor Group (South Korea), and Renault (France).

These companies adopted new product launches, partnerships, and joint ventures to gain traction in the EV platform market

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Scope of the Report

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The study segments the EV platform market:

By Electric Vehicle Type

• BEV
• PHEV

By Vehicle Type

• Hatchback
• Sedans
• Utility Vehicles

By Component

• Suspension Systems
• Steering Systems
• Motor Systems
• Batteries
• Brake Systems
• Chassis
• Electronic Control Units

Electric Commercial Vehicle Platform Market, By Vehicle Type

• Electric Trucks
• Electric Buses
• Electric Vans/Pickup Trucks

By Region

• Asia Pacific
• North America
• Europe

Recent Developments

• In January 2023, BYD announced the launch of its new e4 quad-motor platform for performance vehicles; the first vehicles on this platform are supposed to be a 5-meter electric offroad SUV and a fast hypercar that will be launched under the newly formed Yangwang brand.
• In December 2022, Volkswagen Group is upgrading its MEB electric platform to become more competitive. The company’s upgraded electric vehicle architecture will retain the 400-volt setup it currently uses instead of adopting an 800-volt system like the Hyundai-Kia platform. However, alterations to the updated platform will see charging speeds rise from 135–170 kWh to 175–200 kWh. In addition to faster charging, the MEB+ architecture will allow a maximum range of 435 miles (700 km), a significant jump from the peak of 342 miles (550 km) achievable with the current MEB setup. The updated EV platform will also use unified battery cells sourced from a battery factory in Salzgitter, Germany, and the Swedish plant operated by Northvolt. These unified cells can support different chemistries and reduce battery costs by 50%.
• In December 2022, General Motors revealed a new Chevy EV sedan concept, the FNR-XE, during its China Tech Vision Day 2022 event based on General Motors’s Ultium platform.
• In August 2022, Volkswagen Group and Mahindra and Mahindra signed a term sheet on the supply of MEB Electric Components for Mahindra’s new Electric SUV. Both companies will explore potential opportunities for collaboration in India in the field of e-mobility, including vehicle projects, charging and energy solutions, and cell manufacturing.
• In August 2022, Mahindra and Mahindra unveiled a new ‘INGLO EV platform’ and plans to launch five e-SUVs under new brands in 2–4 years. Mahindra and Mahindra’s new INGLO EV platform is based on a modular electric skateboard that will underpin the homegrown manufacturer’s new range of EVs, which are set to arrive by the end of 2024. Mahindra’s new INGLO EV platform will build SUVs between 4,368 mm and 4,735 mm and have a flexible wheelbase. The e-SUVs battery sizes would be between 60-80kWh and support a fast charge of 175kW, charging the battery from 0–80% in less than 30 minutes.
• In July 2022, Hyundai officially debuted the new IONIQ 6 with a 379-mile range, teasing the upcoming IONIQ N performance EV. It shares the same 800 V E-General Motors P platform as the IONIQ 5, and the IONIQ 6 makes its debut with the same features.
• In March 2022, The BEV-3 EV platform-based Cadillac Lyriq was launched commercially for the public in March 2022. The BEV3-based SUV has a larger length, lower height, greater energy density, and faster charging rate than BEV2. The rear-wheel-drive vehicle has a 102-kWh battery pack and a single electric motor delivering an estimated 340 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque and an estimated 312-mile range.
• In January 2022, Renault and Nissan have formed a joint venture by investing USD 26 billion in future electric vehicles. Both companies plan on developing battery and platform technology to make their future EVs more customizable and less dependent on supply shortages due to supply chain disruptions.
• In January 2022, REE Automotive unveiled a new electric platform for delivery vehicles. The P7 electric Chassis is flat from end-to-end, and electric and autonomous vehicles based on this platform can achieve ranges of up to 600 km (370 miles) on a charge, given the 120-kWh battery. These vehicles can reach a top speed of 130 kph (80 mph).
• In January 2022, REE Automotive launched its new components product line and platforms, REEcorners. These proprietary systems combined the vital parts of an EV between the Chassis and wheel.

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