VW Group Develops New MEB+ EV Platform with 700 KM of Range

The EV market is growing and thriving. Days where a single American EV company dominating the whole EV market space are slowly passing by, as the ‘big boys’ are starting to catch up. Thanks to their massive capital, these ‘traditional’ automakers such as Volkswagen are allowed to invest ‘lavishly’ in developing new technologies such as dedicated EV platforms in further enhancing their EV line-ups.

Volkswagen Group’s proprietary EV platform, the MEB, has garnered a rather huge success for many of the group’s EV models, ranging from Audi e-tron line-up to Volkswagen ID EVs. First launched in 2019, the MEB is due for an upgrade that’ll future-proof the platform, offering better range and much more compact package.

The new platform, dubbed as MEB+ is current under development, with the giant conglomerate putting serious investments to “leverage the full potential of this successful platform and ensure that it remains competitive.” Competitive, it may be, as VW Group claims the improved MEB+ platform can offer up to 700 KM of travel range and capable of 175-200 kW charging rate.

Said improvements are achievable thanks to the firm’s new-gen battery unit that provides more energy output while being modular. This, in turn, gives carmakers more space and flexibility in underpinning the MEB+ platform.

Stand for Modular Electric Drive System, the MEB architecture was borne out of the group’s initiative to go full electric. Underpinning various kinds of vehicles from compact hatchbacks to mini MPVs, the modular platform has become the base for many VW Group’s models, with around 500,000 of those being the highly successful VW ID models.

As the new MEB+ platform offers more range and faster charging, the group expects an increase in MEB-based EVs in near future. To date, VW Group plans to create 10 new models by 2026, all based on said platform. The upcoming models range from an entry-level EV starting at around €25,000 (RM115,769) to performance-oriented and premium models.

As for now, the Wolfsburg-based conglomerate has yet to announce the official release date for the MEB+ architecture. Considering the group’s target of achieving half of its vehicle sales being EVs by 2030, it is safe to bet that said new platform will come by the end of this decade.