A few months ago on Auto Plus we told you about a rather interesting new technology introduced by Stellantis and which aims to become, why not, an alternative to an electric car in some regions of the world is still poorly developed in terms of charging infrastructure.

Stellantis, the leader of the South American market, plans to expand a new generation of electrified engines called “Bio-Hybrid”. The group currently dominates the South American market with a market share of 23.5% in 2023. The Fiat brand is particularly popular thanks to models such as the Strada pickup truck.

What is Stellantis “biohybrid”?

This technology is quite simple. We find Flex technology, which allows conventional heat engines to also run on biofuels. Engineers have added electric motors and batteries of varying power and capacity, creating a family of micro-hybrid, full hybrid and PHEV engines.
The range starts with the base Bio-Hybrid, which is effectively a micro-hybrid engine with a 4hp alternator that also acts as an alternator, feeding a sub-1kWh battery. The system provides additional torque to the car when it is running at low revs, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. It should be adopted on entry-level models such as the Fiat Argo.
Next we find the Bio-Hybrid e-DCT system. It is a classic hybrid with a 22 hp electric motor that allows you to drive several kilometers on 100% electricity, powered by a small battery with a capacity of 1 kWh. Fiat Pulse should be equipped with such an engine.
Finally, there will be a plug-in hybrid power plant with a 60 hp electric motor. and a battery with a capacity of 12 kWh. This is the same system that is already equipped with models we already know, such as the Jeep Compass 4xe, but adapted to heat engines running on ethanol.
The Bio-Hybrid series will work with the Firefly’s 1.0-liter and 1.3-liter engines, both turbocharged and naturally aspirated. The first models will arrive this year.

A colossal investment

This technology, which today seems quite advanced, should become more accessible not in Europe, but in South America. With a budget 5.6 billion euros have been allocated between 2025 and 2030the aim is to develop a range of electric vehicles while exploring ‘bio-hybrid’ technologies.
This decision is qualified as “the most important investment in the history of the automotive industry in Brazil and South America” by Stellantis. The strategy envisages the launch of more than 40 new products by the end of the decade.
This investment is part of the Dare Forward 2030 plan, which foresees a total of 50 billion euros of investment in the electrification of the group’s range. The announced funds will be directed, in particular, to the “Bio-Hybrid” technology, which will be developed in Betima, Brazil. In the future, it is also planned to produce an electric car in this region.

With this in mind, the group recently acquired a 19.9% ​​stake in an Argentine company that produces lithium, a key element for battery production, to support its global electrification goals.

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