Graphic depicting the Volkswagen MEB platform in motion.

A Tale of Two Powertrains

May 31, 2022

How does Volkswagen’s electric vehicle platform differ from the traditional Volkswagen platform? We compare the two.

The push toward electrification rests on the Volkswagen all-new MEB platform, which was designed from the ground up. So what makes the platform so different?

Graphic showing the difference between Volkswagen MEB and MQB components in a vehicle.

Let’s talk about the motor

The MEB platform utilizes an electric motor, located in the back, which powers the rear wheels. This platform also supports all-wheel drive with another front motor that can power the front wheels. In the current VW MQB platform, the engine is located in the front to drive the front wheels — and may have a center drive shaft connecting to the rear differential for available all-wheel drive on select models.

Image depicting the regenerative braking system in the Volkswagen MEB platform.

Your brakes do more than help your VW stop

Both the current generation Volkswagen MQB vehicles and MEB electric vehicles use four-wheel disc brakes. However, the MEB also has regenerative braking. This means that when you take your foot off the accelerator, the motor works as a generator, reversing the flow of energy back to the battery and slowing forward motion.

Something is missing inside a VW Electric Vehicle MEB

That hump between the front seats that’s in most vehicles? It takes up lots of room because it’s providing necessary space for some vehicle elements, including the center drive shaft and shifter.

In the MEB platform, there’s no need for a center drive shaft, thus no need for that center hump. A single-speed gearbox is housed in the same drive unit as the motor and supporting electronics, driving the wheels directly. Additionally, without the engine and transmission up front, the panel separating the engine and passenger compartment is pushed forward, which can create more interior volume.

Graphic depicting the interior of a concept vehicle built on the Volkswagen MEB platform. — Moving the heater and HVAC under the hood frees up space in the dash; also notice the hump-less floor

To heat the cabin, a traditional vehicle relies on a heater core in the dash, which utilizes coolant that is heated by the engine. In an MEB EV, the heater is located under the hood, freeing up even more space inside. Additionally, it is predominantly electric because heated coolant is not always available to heat the cabin. While it is mainly electric, it also uses heat generated by other components when available.

Graphic depicting the components of the Volkswagen MEB platform.

How about the battery in the MEB EVs?

First of all, it’s large, flat, and mounted under the floor, which helps to maintain weight distribution and a center of gravity. Secondly, the battery pack is designed to be rapidly-charged, depending on application. Future plans may include inductive charging.

How does the MEB keep the motor cool?

Surprisingly, the MEB EV has a relatively conventional radiator at the front of the car just like an MQB. However, unlike a gasoline engine (coolant circulates through the engine block), the MEB EV system uses an electric pump to circulate coolant to the motor’s heat exchanger on demand — as well as other electronic components such as the battery and inverter — to keep them at their optimum operating temperatures.

But how are the platforms the same?

One of the things that made the MQB so great was its versatility: It could be lengthened, widened, and lifted to accommodate different vehicle types such as the Golf and the Atlas. That same versatility guides the MEB: It is designed to be able to support a wide range of next-generation VW EVs in all shapes and sizes.