Held under wraps for 14 months, Exro Technologies Inc. (EXRO-T) has publicly unveiled its partnership with international automaker Stellantis N.V. (STLA-N) to integrate the Calgary company's Exro Coil Driver into Stellantis’ electric vehicle powertrains.

Exro had been collaborating with the Netherlands-based Stellantis for over a year, a relationship which was held under a non-disclosure agreement. The patented Coil Driver units were demonstrated and tested in Stellantis’ passenger electric vehicles (EVs).

The first phase of the program has been a success, having improved the electrified motor design, enhanced performance and lowered costs, Exro's CFO Darrell Bishop said in an email exchange with Sustainable Biz Canada. Coil Driver may now be integrated into Stellantis' passenger vehicles though it is not immediately known how quickly this will happen, nor how extensively the units will be adopted.

In an interview with Sustainable Biz Canada in February, Exro CEO Sue Ozdemir said having the Coil Driver in passenger vehicles has been Exro’s goal for many years.

“Stellantis pushed us to evolve the Coil Driver technology and prove the need to disrupt the passenger EV propulsion systems as they exist today,” Exro chief technology officer Eric Hustedt said in the announcement.

“They challenged us to demonstrate how Exro’s Coil Driver technology holds the potential to enhance system efficiency and power, while also holding the potential to significantly reduce cost and accelerate the adoption of EVs globally.”

About Coil Driver

Coil Driver enables an electric motor to switch configurations in use, optimizing speed and torque while eliminating the need for multiple motors and gearboxes.

Its integration has also been tested by California-based electric motorcycle producer Zero and in Guelph, Ont.-based Linamar Corporation’s eAxle.

The EV part is manufactured at Exro’s 37,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembling facility in Calgary. Initial order commitments were made by Italian original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier HB4 Group, and Aldergrove, B.C.-based electric bus and commercial vehicle manufacturer Vicinity Motor Corp.

Bishop confirmed Stellantis was the “leading global automotive OEM partner" it had collaborated with on a passenger vehicle prototype that was in development in 2024. The project focuses on a Coil Driver-Heavy Rare Earth/Rare Earth-free motor design, which reduces the amount of rare earth metals in EV motors in addition to the other benefits of the units.

Stellantis had contacted Exro over 18 months ago about its technology, following a search by its global innovation team for technology to incorporate into its passenger EVs, Bishop said. 

Exro has progressed to Phase 2 of the Stellantis innovation program, where it will continue to supply Coil Driver prototypes to be integrated into Stellantis passenger EV platforms, he continued. It is a key step before progressing to a commercial agreement.

Exro recognized for innovation by Stellantis

Along with announcing Stellantis as its partner, Exro said it was one of three finalists for Best Supplier in the Innovation category in the 2024 Stellantis Global Automotive Supplier Awards.

The event, held at the Lingotto Conference Hall in Turin, Italy, on Tuesday, was attended by over 200 suppliers.

“Exro was nominated for its expertise in innovative motor control technology, which significantly enhanced our electrified motor design, improved performance, and reduced costs, demonstrating the commitment to accelerate electric vehicle adoption in the passenger car market,” Teresa Thiele, Stellantis’ senior vice-president of global purchasing programs, was quoted as saying in the release.

Exro is involved in late-stage discussions with another major automotive EV OEM, and mid-stage talks with a third major automotive OEM for a hybrid gas-electric application, Bishop said.

The company's goal is to achieve double-digit quarterly growth in deliveries of electric propulsion system technology to blue-chip commercial vehicle OEMs (such as Mack and Hino), add more commercial vehicle OEMs and geographies, and further advance Coil Driver in the passenger vehicle space, he concluded.