Automaker Stellantis N.V. has teamed up with Qinomic, an innovative solutions provider, to create a proof of concept that will convert internal combustion engine (ICE) light commercial vehicles to an electric drivetrain.
“This innovation gives our professional customers the choice to convert their current vans to electric, extend their vehicle’s life and meet legislative and mobility requirements,” said Alison Jones, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Circular Economy Business Unit.
The electric retrofit solution aims to protect freedom of mobility with an affordable option that meets customer needs to extend the life of their vehicles and continue business activities while accessing low emissions zones (LEZ) in cities, the company said.
The partnership will help companies cater to the need for low emissions vehicles, which is likely to grow over time, as evident from latest data. According to the EIT Urban Mobility Report, the number of LEZs in Europe increased by 40% in the last three years and will continue to increase as part of the enforcement of urban vehicle access regulations. The driver for this increase is the European Green Deal plan, aimed at encouraging the transition to cleaner vehicles and cleaner mobility, the company said.
Electric retrofitting is both a sustainable and an affordable solution for customers willing to switch to zero emissions and to reduce their total cost of ownership, while keeping their vehicles, the company said.
Stellantis’ decarbonization strategy is aimed at becoming carbon net zero by 2038, as outlined in the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.
“It is an important step in Qinomic’s development, which will enable us to finalize and implement some of the innovative technical solutions we are developing for the retrofit industry,” said Frédéric Strady, Co-founder and CEO of Qinomic.
Successful completion of this joint development in 2023 and positive customer feedback on the demo cars’ performance will lead to implementation and commercialization starting in France in 2024.
“In a market boosted by last-mile demand, city access restrictions will soon require recent LCV owners to look for a solution to convert to zero emissions,” said Eric Laforge, Stellantis Vice President, Enlarged Europe Light Commercial Vehicles. “Retrofitting technology like this will enable Stellantis to support this trend.”