Stellantis has a year to forget, but this global innovation could change its luck
After months of negative headlines due to failures in its PureTech and diesel engines, Stellantis surprises with an electric innovation called IBIS, a system that integrates charger and inverter in the battery and promises lighter, more efficient, and affordable cars.
Amid engine failures of PureTech and diesel, the automotive giant Stellantis is experiencing an annus horribilis. But its latest technological move, an innovative electric system that simplifies propulsion and reduces costs, aims for a game-changing impact that could turn the tide.
In recent months, Stellantis has seen its reputation tarnished by persistent mechanical issues with its combustion engines. The PureTech blockages —with the dreaded timing belt breakage— and the headaches from some diesels have filled forums and workshops.
For a group that encompasses iconic brands like Peugeot, Citroën, FIAT, Opel, or Jeep, there is nothing worse than seeing its customers lose confidence while electric rivals hit the gas.
If the customer is not convinced, they can exchange their vehicle for a Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid, or thermal version, without penalty.
IBIS: the unexpected card
When it seemed that 2025 would be marked only by uncomfortable headlines, Stellantis surprised with an announcement that represents a global novelty. In collaboration with Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, the group has presented a prototype electric vehicle with IBIS technology (Intelligent Battery Integrated System). Behind the name lies a simple and brilliant idea: to integrate the inverter and charger directly into the battery.
The first real demonstration of this architecture is a Peugeot E-3008 mounted on the STLA Medium platform, already undergoing road tests. It is not just a laboratory exercise: years of research with partners like E2-CAD, Sherpa Engineering, and leading French centers —CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Lafayette— have culminated in a system that promises to shake up electrification.
Why it is so disruptive
IBIS is not just about saving parts: it reduces weight by 40 kg, frees up 17 liters of space, and improves efficiency by up to 10%. In street terms, this means more range or better performance: power increases by 15% (172 kW compared to 150 kW) with the same battery. Additionally, AC charging time can be shortened by 15%: from seven to six hours on a 7 kW charger.
Another advantage? Simpler maintenance and "second life" batteries that are easier to reuse, which is crucial for the circular economy that the European Union (EU) demands. And all this regardless of the battery chemistry, which opens doors to different cell technologies.
"This project reflects our belief that simplification is innovation," emphasizes Ned Curic, director of engineering and technology at Stellantis. "We are making the architecture lighter, more efficient, and more cost-effective".
For Hervé Amossé, vice president of Saft, the initiative "unlocks a new era of intelligent, flexible, and sustainable energy solutions". Words that sound like global ambition, beyond cars: the same architecture could be applied to trains, ships, planes, or data centers.
The second phase of the project started in June 2025, backed by the France 2030 program. If the tests confirm what is promised, IBIS technology could reach Stellantis production models before the end of the decade.
Three months of trial without commitment
The IBIS system is not the only recent novelty from Stellantis in the electric car segment. Days ago, Peugeot launched the E-Relax campaign with the slogan "you can return it, but you won't want to," aimed at those who are still hesitant before making the leap to a 100% electric car.
The promotion offers three months of trial: if the customer is not convinced, they can exchange their vehicle for a Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid, or thermal version, without penalty. The only requirement to enjoy this initiative is to purchase a vehicle from the electric Peugeot range and finance it through Stellantis Financial Services, which provides flexible conditions tailored to different needs.
The campaign, which covers the entire electric Peugeot range —from the urban e-208 to the compact e-308 and e-308 SW, the fastback e-408, and the SUVs e-2008, e-3008, and e-5008— is complemented by included benefits: eight years of battery warranty, coverage of up to eight years Peugeot Care, home charging point, and RFID Charging Pass card.
With E-Relax, the brand demonstrates confidence in the quality, range, and comfort of its electric models, and seeks to eliminate the barriers that hinder the transition to zero-emission mobility.
