MEB, the Volkswagen Electric Platform for Electric Vehicles

Image made from information available in [Vienna Motor Symposium 2020]

To propose cost-attractive Electric Vehicles, VW develops an aggressive strategy based on a modular e-drive platform 🧩. Common across the Group (AUDI...), it enables various powertrain configs 🚘

Called MEB, this vehicle structure includes:
➡️Chassis equipped with a flat lithium-ion high-voltage Battery 🔋
➡️Compact power inverter
➡️Single-speed transmission
➡️High-voltage wiring 
➡️Charging device

2 e-drives can be installed: 
- Main drive is a permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PSM) at the rear axle (150 kW, 310 Nm). It covers most of normal driving conditions with constant power output
- Depending on vehicle concept, the front axle can get additional 75 kW, 151 Nm thanks to an asynchronous machine (ASM). It is used as a short-term boosting or for 4-wheel drive

The full e-drive system ⚡️(Power inverter, Electric machine, Transmission) is 90% max efficiency Priority is on the rear axle at low-loads and at moderate speeds

The battery 🔋 (parallel and series-connected modules) is into the floor between the axles (saving place for interior). Number of cells can be changed to enable different energy contents and power outputs depending on vehicle concept

Cooling ❄️ combines liquid coolant and oil cooling also used to lubricate the bearings and the gear system