Stellantis wants to turn its combustion-engine vans into hybrids

Victor Alós Yus @sepelaci 1 February 2025 2 min.

The company Dangel offers a complete overhaul of the traditional drivetrain, adding an electric motor on the rear axle and a battery that powers it

The new Opel Combo 4×4 has just hit the market. It was not created exclusively by Stellantis, but was developed together with the French company Dangel. Dangel is responsible for converting combustion-engine models into light hybrid models by adding an electric motor to the rear axle.

This version of the Opel Combo 4×4 replaces the traditional traction system this model had until now and places this rear electric motor, which assists traction when the vehicle needs an extra boost of power. In principle, the model only has front-wheel drive, since it is the front axle that receives the torque from the diesel engine. The rear motor only operates when extra assistance is required and the thrust of this axle is needed.

An electronic control unit monitors the need for grip and, if it detects a lack of it, activates the rear motor. It works together with the ESP system and allows the driver to manually adjust the Auto and Low modes according to their needs. To power the electric motor, a 48-volt battery with a capacity of 4.8 kWh is used.

The conversion is not limited to the hybrid traction system. It also includes a suspension lift that raises ground clearance by 90 millimetres, improving the vehicle’s off-road capabilities. Dangel is also reinforcing components such as the engine, the gearbox and the fuel tank, to offer greater durability and protect them when driving over more demanding terrain.

A conversion designed for Stellantis vans

Dangel offers this conversion for other Stellantis models, mainly for the group’s small vans, both for goods transport and passenger transport. The plan is for this conversion to also be applicable to medium-sized vans. All of them share the EMP architecture with the small vans, so it is fully compatible with them.

The price of this hybrid conversion, called 4WD by Dangel, is 9,400 euros on top of the price of the vehicle.