Karma Automotive showcases flat floor BEV architecture for affordable EV development

Karma Automotive has 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 says it'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. The company says it is engineered with compact electric architecture in mind, the platform offers an economic total cost of ownership (TCO) 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.

Karma says all 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 optimise development costs to engineer, test, certify and build an EREV or BEV platform, allowing electrification of their products with greater speed and efficiency.

Mike Jones, Director of Chassis Engineering, Karma Automotive said: “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. 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 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, an extended range E-Flex platform for CV applications, a BEV van equipped with SAE Level 4 autonomous technology, and a high-performance platform with supercar-capable architecture. Additional components also available include Karma’s new SiC inverters. Karma also recently announced plans to build its future Revero GTE; a pure battery-electric version of its award-winning Revero GT, on a dual-motor 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 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.