A Sneak Peek into the Cutting-Edge Audi and Porsche Premium Platform Electric Architecture
Get ready to hear a lot about PPE this year. PPE stands for the codename of a brand-new electric vehicle (EV) platform set to underpin a variety of vehicles from Volkswagen Group's premium brands, prominently featuring Audi and Porsche, along with Bentley. Our first glimpses of PPE came with sneak peeks into the upcoming 2025 Porsche Macan EV, slated for an official unveiling next week, with production likely later this year or early next. The PPE platform will make its debut with the launch of the all-new Audi Q6 E-Tron this spring.
In simpler terms, the PPE platform sits above the MEB platform, which supports EVs from Volkswagen Group's mainstream brands like the VW ID4 SUV. It also exists alongside the J1 platform, the foundation for the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT sedans. PPE stands out as an exceptionally flexible architecture, accommodating various wheelbases, tracks, and ground clearance options. This versatility enables the platform to support both cars and SUVs, including successors to the current Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, and Bentley Bentayga SUVs. Notably, the PPE platform, as seen in the Macan EV, can incorporate air suspension, 22-inch wheels, and rear-wheel steering.
Vehicles based on the PPE platform will feature a new range of modular e-motors with superior performance compared to MEB vehicles. The innovative e-motor concept introduces stators of different lengths, allowing for three distinct power and torque outputs. All motors are of the permanent magnet synchronous (PSM) type, with the option for the small-stator motor to be a lower-cost, less powerful asynchronous unit. These e-motors utilize a common single-speed transmission with various gear ratios, enhancing vehicle performance and enabling energy-saving coasting.
PPE-based vehicles will initially adopt a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration. Audi sources reveal that PPE's front axle e-motor is more compact, lighter, less expensive, and more energy-efficient than its predecessor in the Q8 e-tron. Under normal driving conditions, the rear e-motor propels 100 percent of the drive to the rear wheels. However, the powertrain control system can activate the front e-motor instantly, allowing for an adjustable torque split between the rear and front depending on traction.
The PPE platform incorporates an 800-volt electrical architecture powered by a 100 kWh modular prismatic battery, offering rapid charging capabilities. The battery's modular design allows for potential repairs and updates, accommodating newer, higher-performance battery chemistries. The platform serves as a transitional phase towards Volkswagen Group's ultimate goal of becoming a pure EV producer, with future advancements folding into the SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) to underpin a wide range of EVs.
Despite the ambitious plans, challenges in software development at Cariad, Volkswagen Group's in-house software division, may potentially delay the launch of the next-gen SSP, possibly extending the lifespan of the capable PPE models until 2029 or even 2030.
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