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Skateboard Platform

Car culture term

Skateboard Platform
Photo: Andra Febrian / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What is Skateboard Platform?

An EV chassis design that packages the battery and motors in a flat floor structure, freeing up cabin space and lowering the centre of gravity.

A skateboard platform is a modular EV chassis in which the battery pack, electric motors and related components are integrated into a flat, slab-like floor structure. The name comes from its resemblance to a skateboard, with the wheels at the corners and the running gear sandwiched in between.

This layout offers major packaging advantages. With no engine or transmission tunnel, designers can push the cabin outward and create a flat floor and a long wheelbase, maximising interior space on a relatively compact footprint. The low, central battery also lowers the centre of gravity, aiding handling and stability.

Skateboard platforms are also highly scalable, letting manufacturers build different body styles on a shared base. Most dedicated EV architectures, as opposed to adapted combustion platforms, follow this skateboard concept to make the most of electric packaging.

Related terms

800V ArchitectureLFP BatteryMonocoqueDC Fast ChargingMid-engine

Frequently asked questions

What is a skateboard platform?
It is an EV chassis where the battery and motors sit in a flat floor structure, resembling a skateboard with wheels at the corners.
Why is the skateboard layout good for EVs?
It frees up cabin space with a flat floor, allows a long wheelbase and lowers the centre of gravity for better handling.
Is a skateboard platform scalable?
Yes, manufacturers can build different body styles and sizes on a shared skateboard base, which lowers development cost.
Do all EVs use skateboard platforms?
Most dedicated EV architectures do, though EVs adapted from combustion platforms may not fully follow the concept.
How does it lower the centre of gravity?
Placing the heavy battery low in the floor keeps mass close to the ground, which improves stability and cornering.

Skateboard Platform on the blog

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