We’re still in the early phase of the transition to electric vehicles. That means building an EV remains an immense technical challenge. Manufacturers are dispensing with more than a century of combustion car development and rethinking how to build a vehicle from the ground, or in the car’s case, the platform up.
There’s no one right way to build an electric vehicle platform. Car companies have settled on four main development pathways.
Dedicated EV Platform
This platform is designed specifically for EVs. It permits maximum design freedom. It’s scalable and modular. It can be sold to other manufacturers. It’s the ideal where almost every EV manufacturer wants to be. But getting there requires years of painstaking and expensive R&D without a guaranteed return on investment — a tough sell to shareholders.
Modified Combustion Platform
Call this the “quick and dirty” route to a serviceable EV where a manufacturer retrofits an existing combustion platform. It limits EV design and capability. It’s often a developmental dead end. But it is a way to get a serviceable EV on the road expediently and buy time to figure out the broader electric future.
Hybrid Platform
Some newer combustion platforms were designed for powertrain flexibility. The platform can accommodate combustion, EVs or various forms of hybrid in between. Design and capability are compromised. But manufacturers, being able to build EVs on the same line as combustion cars, have more flexibility.
EV First Platform
This is a dedicated EV platform that’s designed for EVs but still capable of implementing combustion, hybrid or range-extending powertrains as needed. This may become a more popular route in the future as buyers hedge against EV skepticism.
Here’s a rundown of the EV platforms currently in use in America or revealed to be in development.
BMW
CLAR: CLAR stands for BMW Cluster Architecture. BMW EVs like the i4 are built on this hybrid platform, which also underpins BMW combustion cars. Performance is compromised a bit compared to rivals from Mercedes. Though the BMWs counter by looking like BMWs.
iX: BMW’s iX crossover runs on its own dedicated EV platform, which has been somewhat confusingly described as “totally new” but also “highly compatible” with CLAR.
Neue Klasse: The Neue Klasse will be BMW’s first dedicated EV platform. It will feature more compact, energy-dense cylindrical battery cells, allowing vehicles to offer more range and fastecan accommodate capable of accommodating up to 1,341 hp from a quad-motor system. Neue Klasse should launch in 2025 with an X3-sized crossover and 3-Series-sized sedan.
Ford
GE1: Ford uses the Global Electrified 1 platform for the Mustang Mach E. GE1 derives from the combustion C2 platform, which underpins the Ford Escape, Maverick and Brwill likelyThe platform is likely to be a one-off for the Mustang Mach E. Ford used VW’s MEB platform for European EVs and is reportedly developing an updated GE2 platform.
T3: Ford builds the F-150 Lightning on a revised version of its body-on-frame T3 platform that underpins its conventional F-150 pickups. Ford has said it will launch a “Project T3” pickup on a new EV platform later this decade.
General Motors
BEV3: BEV3 is GM’s dedicated EV platform. It uses a skateboard layout with GM’s Ultium battery technology. GM uses BEV3 for crossovers like the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV and Chevrolet Equinox EV. The Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX are also built on BEV3.
BT1: BT1 is GM’s platform for full-size electric pickups and SUVs, underpinning vehicles like the GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV. It is not related to the T1 truck platform. BT1 is technically not body-on-frame, though GM says it is not a unibody platform.
Hyundai Motor Group
E-GMP: Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform is a dedicated EV platform with a skateboard layout. It is known for its 800V architecture (there is a 400V for more affordable cars like the Kia EV3) and its lightning-quick 350 kW fast charging. Cars based on the E-GMP platform — the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 — have won the last three World Car Awards.
Lucid
Lucid Air: The Lucid Air’s platform offers some of the most impressive performance and efficiency on the EV market with its 924-volt architecture and efficiently packaged powertrain. It delivers more than 500 miles of range (the best on the market) in its most efficient form and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in as little as 2.5 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz
EVA2: EVA2 is the current Mercedes-Benz EV platform. It’s a dedicated EV platform, providing the basis for the EQS and EQE sedans and SUVs. It’s a 400V architecture offering up to 200 kW fast charging.
MMA: MMA is Mercedes Modular Architecture. It’s a new platform designed primarily for smaller electric vehicles (though it won’t be exclusively electric). It debuted with the Concept CLA. It will support an 800V architecture with up to 250 kW fast charging.
AMG.EA: Mercedes-Benz is building a high-performance AMG EV with its own platform. It will use high-power, lightweight axial flux motors from Yasa and a high-voltage, high-performance battery. Expect car and SUV versions.
VAN.EA: Mercedes-Benz is developing a new modular electric van platform, VAN.EA. It will be used for commercial and personal vehicles, with Mercedes-Benz planning to launch a new camper van line and a mid-size luxury van in the U.S.
Nissan
CMF-EV: The Nissan Ariya uses the CMF-EV platform, a modified version of the CMF (Common Module Family) platform used by other Nissan vehicles. It’s a 400V architecture offering up to 130 kW fast charging.
Nissan EV Platform: The Nissan Leaf uses an older EV platform based on the Nissan B platform. It is the only EV still using a CHAdeMO plug for fast charging.
Rivian
Rivian Skateboard: Rivian launched two vehicles on its initial R1 skateboard EV platform, the R1T pickup and R1S three-row SUV. Rivian refreshed both vehicles for 2025, with both offering a maximum EPA range above 400 miles, along with impressive off-road capability and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds.
Rivian Midsize: Rivian unveiled a new smaller midsize platform to underpin new R2, R3 and R3X vehicles, which will start to roll out in 2026. The new cars will be smaller than the R1 lineup, offering less capability and range. But they should be dramatically cheaper, with the R2 starting around $45,000 and the R3 slotting beneath it.
Rolls-Royce
Architecture of Luxury: The Rolls-Royce Spectre runs on the Architecture of Luxury platform (yes, that’s actually the name), which forms the basis for Rolls-Royce’s combustion models. The Spectre packs dual BMW electric motors, putting out 577 horsepower and provides up to 291 miles of range.
Stellantis
STLA: Stellantis unveiled four STLA (pronounced “Stella,” Marlin Brando exclamation optional) platforms: Small, Medium, Large and Frame. The company calls them EV-first or EV-native platforms, designed for EVs but compatible with combustion and hybrid engines. The Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger Daytona will use the STLA Large platform. The Ram 1500 REV and Ramcharger ride on the STLA Frame truck platform.
Toyota
e-TNGA: e-TNGA is the electric version of Toyota’s New Global Architecture platform. It underpins the Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ and Subaru Solterra. The cars have been praised for their driving dynamics and ripped for range and charging tech well below the standard competitors offer. Toyota is reportedly working on a dedicated EV platform to replace it.
Tesla
Model S/Model X: Tesla’s first ground-up EV after the roadster was the Model S full-sized sedan. The brand followed that up with an SUV based on it, the three-row Model X. Those vehicles, launching in 2013 and 2016, respectively, are still being sold, albeit with substantial updates.
Model 3/Model Y: Tesla moved downmarket with the smaller, cheaper Model 3 and followed that up with the Model Y crossover version. Tesla moved to streamline production with this platform. At launch, the Model Y shared more than 70% of its components with the Model 3.
Cybertruck: Tesla’s third vehicle is the Cybertruck. It’s a unibody truck platform. The Cybertruck is the first Tesla to upgrade to an 800V architecture, though it charges at similar speed to 400V competitors.
Volkswagen Group
MEB: Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Toolkit is VW’s first dedicated EV platform used for more affordable EVs. It’s a modular skateboard platform with a flat floor, allowing ample cargo and passenger space. It’s the basis for the Volkswagen ID.4, ID. Buzz and Audi Q4 E-Tron. Ford uses it for crossovers in Europe.
MLB Evo: Audi’s first EV, now called the Q8 E-Tron, runs on MLB Evo, a modified version of Volkswagen’s MLB combustion platform, used for cars like the Lamborghini Urus and the Porsche Cayenne.
J1: J1 is a high-performance sporty EV platform used by Porsche for the Taycan and Audi for the E-Tron GT. The J1 platform offers an 800V architecture and up to 270 kW fast charging.
PPE: Premium Platform Electric is a new modular platform developed for Porsche and Audi. It’s intended for larger EVs and is debuting with the Porsche Macan EV and Audi Q6 E-Tron. Like the J1 platform, PPE has an 800V architecture. It can also feature a “performance rear axle” with the rear motor situated further back for rear-biased driving dynamics.
SSP: Scalable Systems Platform is the next-gen modular EV platform from VW Group. It’s intended to replace MEB and other platforms, bringing in greater standardization to reduce costs. The SSP rollout has been delayed until the late 2020s.
Volvo/Polestar
CMA: CMA, Compact Modular Architecture, is Volvo’s midsize car platform used for electric and combustion models. It underpins the Polestar 2 and the Volvo’s XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge vehicles.
SPA2: SPA2, Scalable Product Architecture 2, is Volvo’s dedicated EV platform, debuting with the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 crossovers. The cars have a 400V architecture that provides up to 250 kW of fast charging. Volvo has said it is developing a more capable SPA3 architecture to replace it.
