Converting from diesel to electric: Stellantis presents a solution for van conversions
Stellantis has partnered with France's Qinomic to develop a complete solution for converting light commercial vehicles (LCVs) with internal combustion engines into all-electric vehicles.
Here's What We Know
The proposed conversion involves the replacement of more than 200 original components. The power output of the electric motor is 100 kW (136 hp). There is a choice of a 50 kWh or 75 kWh battery for a range of 230 or 330 kilometres. Using a 100 kW DC charger, converted vehicles with a 50 kWh battery can be charged to 80 per cent in half an hour. LCV models with a larger battery will take 45 minutes to do so.
The dismantled components such as the engine, gearbox and exhaust system are disassembled by Gruau, a bodybuilder specialising in commercial vehicles. They are then returned to Stellantis, defective, reconditioned where possible and then reused at the Circular Economy Hub SUSTAINera factory in Mirafiori near Turin.
Qinomic receives new electrical components, including motors and batteries, directly from Stellantis. According to L'Argus, Stellantis is offering a warranty of eight years or 160,000 kilometres of mileage for the converted vehicles.
The conversion offer will initially be available in France for mid-size van models such as the Fiat Scudo, Opel Vivaro, Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy. Vehicles manufactured after 2016 will be able to switch from diesel to electricity.
The conversion price remains quite high: the conversion of a diesel Citroën Jumpy into an electric version by Qinomic costs in France €33,000 excluding VAT with a 75 kWh battery and €25,000 excluding VAT with a 50 kWh battery. However, there are several types of subsidies available in France that can be combined. This can reduce the actual cost of the conversion to €10,000 (for a 50 kWh battery) or €18,000 (for a 75 kWh battery). This is considerably cheaper than buying a new ë-Jumpy XL with a 75 kWh battery, which costs €41,400 excluding VAT.
Sources: Stellantis, Largus
