Recognizing that the auto market will take time to switch to purely battery-electric models as their price declines and the charging infrastructure matures, Jeep and Ram parent Stellantis has introduced a flexible new body-on-frame chassis that accommodates the full variety of possible drivetrains, including internal combustion engine (ICE), battery-electric vehicle (BEV), and range-extended EV (REEV) powertrains.

The new STLA Frame chassis joins Stellantis’s STLA Large and STLA Medium chassis designs as the company seeks to push the product lines for its various brands onto common platforms with the flexibility to meet the requirements of different markets and product segments.

The body-on-frame full-size pickup truck and SUV markets are tough for battery-electric technology, considering their poor aerodynamics, frequent long-distance driving, and trailer-towing uses. The company isn’t providing any details on the planned combustion-powered versions of the truck, but the range-extended electric version claims a driving range of 690 miles on a tank of gas.

The BEV STLA Large will go 500 miles on a full charge. Both vehicles are rated to carry 2,700 lbs. in payload or to tow as much as 14,000 lbs. Payload is a particular challenge for EVs because that is limited by the capacity of their tires and battery vehicles are already saddled with an abundance of battery weight that cuts into payload capacity.

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EVs are great for pulling trailers because of their immense torque. They just aren’t good for towing those trailers very far because the added weight and aerodynamic drag destroy driving range. Any of us who have gotten 9 mpg from a truck while towing a trailer have discovered that we have to stop for gas unexpectedly often. Unfortunately charging takes longer than refueling.

The range-extended version of STLA Frame carries its gas-powered generator under the hood.

Jeeps and 4x4s are also sometimes expected to ford streams, so the STLA large is designed to withstand two feet of water without reenacting the Back to the Future clock tower lightning strike scene.

The REEV system combines a battery between the frame rails with front and rear 250-kilowatt (340 horsepower) electric drive modules (EDMs) and an on-board ICE-powered generator under the hood to keep the batteries charged. There is no driveshaft sending power from the combustion engine to the wheels, making it a pure series hybrid like a diesel-electric locomotive.

“STLA Frame combines an unprecedented range with new levels of capability and performance to offer best-in-class range, payload, and towing for our customers who need reliable and powerful trucks and SUVs, to haul their families or power their businesses,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “With full EV and extended-range EV tech coming soon, we’re bringing ‘no compromise’ solutions to buyers who may be hesitant on trying their first electric vehicle.”

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The STLA Frame chassis is built with high-strength steel for improved durability and rigidity with less weight. The widened center section of the frame houses the battery pack, with extra reinforcement to protect the battery in the event of a side impact. There’s a full-length belly pan under the frame to reduce aerodynamic drag for better driving range. The frame accommodates a variety of suspensions, including air suspension for a cushy ride on SUV models.

The STLA Frame design still accommodates a traditional combustion powerplant driving the wheels though a transmission and driveshaft.

Stellantis plans battery packs starting at 159 kWh and topping out at more than 200 kWh. The BEV models will feature 800-volt technology with bi-directional charging to provide the ability to send power to the grid. It will be able to boost driving range by 100 miles in just 10 minutes, according to Stellantis. The REEV vehicles use a 400-volt pack and can add as much as 50 miles in 10 minutes with a 175-kW charging level.

Considering the ongoing turmoil in terms of market acceptance and technology development, Stellantis wisely planned the STLA Large to be flexible in terms of battery cell chemistry, electric drive modules, power inverters, and software control. The company is investing more than €50 billion in electrification through 2030 to reach its targets of 100 percent passenger car BEV sales mix in Europe and 50 percent passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the U.S. by 2030. 

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