Powertrain 2020 - The Future Drives Electric (PDF ... - Roland Berger

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"Powertrain 2020 – The Future Drives Electric"
2.2.2 Vehicle layout requirements
Cars with pure electric powertrains require a very different vehicle packaging
than cars with conventional powertrains. This is due to the different
spatial and physical requirements in terms of vibration, noise, cooling,
aerodynamics and so forth. The compact design of the electric components
(except the battery) provides an opportunity for OEMs to redesign the bodyin-white,
introducing new lightweight materials and innovative interior
solutions, for instance. Toyota's "1/x" concept car is a good example.
Adding a small, ICE-powered generator as range extender doesn't necessarily
exclude the option of such a redesign. The picture changes, however,
where fully-fledged ICE powertrains come into play (e.g. in parallel hybrid
designs) or where the vehicle platform needs to suit both electric and ICE
applications.
In the period up to 2020 – in other words, for the first and second generation
of PHEVs/EVs – most manufacturers will continue to use established
vehicle packages that follow conventional powertrain layouts. This will
allow them to leverage component synergies with ICE-powered versions.
Upper-end premium vehicles (conventional E-segment and F-segment
vehicles and large SUVs), which have relatively low production volumes,
will not feature a dedicated EV layout.