Stellantis, which has its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills has unveiled what it calls a “groundbreaking” prototype vehicle featuring IBIS battery technology in partnership with France’s Saft.
The vehicle is part of a years-long research project aimed at developing a more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective energy storage and electric conversion system.
IBIS technology is designed to “reimagine” the electric powertrain by embedding inverter and charger functionalities directly into the battery, regardless of chemistry or application.
The architecture supports both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), supplying electric energy directly to the motor or grid, while simultaneously supplying the vehicle’s 12V network and auxiliary systems, according to the companies.
The first fully functional IBIS-equipped battery electric vehicle (BEV) is a new Peugeot E-3008, built on the STLA Medium platform.
The prototype follows years of design, modeling, and simulation by Stellantis and Saft, with support from E2-CAD, Sherpa Engineering, and leading French research institutions, including CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, and Institut Lafayette.
“This project reflects our belief that simplification is innovation,” says Ned Curic, chief engineering and technology officer at Stellantis. “By rethinking and simplifying the electric powertrain architecture, we are making it lighter, more efficient, and more cost-effective. These are the kinds of innovations that help us deliver better, more affordable EVs to our customers.”
Since mid-2022, an initial IBIS demonstrator for stationary applications has been operational, validating key technical concepts and generating numerous patents. The transition to a mobile prototype represents a leap forward in the system’s development, the collaborators say.
Key benefits of the technology include:
Efficiency and performance: Up to 10 percent energy efficiency improvement (WLTC cycle) and 15 percent power gain (172 kW vs. 150 kW) with the same battery size.
Weight and space savings: Reduces vehicle weight by 40 kg and frees up to 17 liters of volume, enabling better aerodynamics and design flexibility.
Faster charging: Early results show a 15 percent reduction in charging time (e.g., from 7 to 6 hours on a 7 kW AC charger), along with 10 percent energy savings.
Simplified maintenance: Easier servicing and enhanced potential for second-life battery reuse in both automotive and stationary applications.
IBIS also streamlines maintenance and facilitates the reuse of second-life batteries in stationary automotive applications by reducing the need for extensive reconditioning.
“The IBIS project is a powerful testament to Saft’s innovation leadership,” says Hervé Amossé, executive vice president of energy storage systems at Saft. “By embedding IBIS technology into our next-generation applications, we’re unlocking a new era of intelligent, flexible, and sustainable energy solutions.”
Phase Two of the project began in June 2025 with continued support from the French government through 2030. The focus now shifts to real-world testing under representative driving conditions, which could pave the way for the integration of IBIS technology into Stellantis production vehicles by the end of the decade.
Beyond automotive, the IBIS architecture is said to hold promise for a wide range of applications, including rail, aerospace, marine, and data centers.
