Chrysler recently announced that it is seriously considering producing the Dodge EV as it’s first production ENVI vehicle. The Dodge EV is based on the Lotis Europa was unveiled on Tuesday. Chrysler is also no stranger to platform sharing, it currently produces the Routan minivan for Volkswagen based on the Chrysler Town & Country and will produce the Titan for Nissan based on the Dodge Ram.
On the other side of things, Lotus is already supplying California-based Tesla with its Elise two-door, which serves as the basis for the Tesla Roadster. Chrysler took notice of the Roadster’s Lotus roots and discovered just how ideal Lotus platforms were for sporty, yet efficient, vehicles.
“Lotus has a lot of experience with lightweight vehicles and aluminum structures,” Frank Klegon, Chrysler executive vice president of product development, told Automotive News. That light curb weight is a major factor in the Dodge EV’s ability to sprint from 0-60 in under five seconds and reach a top speed of 120 mph.
If Chrysler does give the Dodge EV the green light the Michigan automaker will source the EV’s platform directly from Lotus. But, Chrylser will supply it’s own drivetrain like Tesla.
The production Dodge EV will likely undercut the Roadster’s $109,000 price tag. Klegon noted the Dodge EV would list for less than $109,000, but failed to give an exact figure. Whatever the price, the Dodge EV could be roaming the streets in production guise as early as 2010.
Today Chrysler is announcing four new models in their electric drive vehicle line up from their ENVI division. Chrysler claims that these vehicles will go on sale starting in 2010. The models include a sportscar for the Dodge brand, a Wrangler for the Jeep brand, a minivan for the Chrysler brand, and a neighborhood vehicle cherry picked from the G.E.M. (Global Electric Motors) subsidiary that Chrysler owns.
Development of all three models will continue furiously and Chrysler will select one model to mass produce that they think is best suited for the market at the time. The company is many years into research on electric drive technology and will be applying it to vehicles in all areas, front wheel, rear wheel, and body on frame four wheel drive platforms.
“We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer,” said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO – Chrysler LLC. “The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future, and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market.”
Electric Vehicle Technology
Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles utilize just three primary components. These include an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor and a controller that manages energy flow. The electric-drive system is being developed for front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle applications.
“This technology provides customers with a vehicle that has zero tailpipe emissions and a 150- to 200-mile driving range – far exceeding most Americans’ daily commutes, as nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “Electric Vehicles provide the opportunity to fulfill social responsibility, reduce dependency on foreign oil, and eliminate monthly gasoline bills, while delivering performance and utility that our customers desire.”
Range-extended Electric Vehicle Technology
Jeep EV Wrangler
The Range-extended Electric Vehicle combines the electric-drive components of the Electric Vehicle with a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles – with no compromises in performance.
Range-extended Electric Vehicles offer environmental responsibility without giving up driving range, comfort or utility.
Dodge EV
Rear view of the Dodge EV
The Dodge EV is an all electric two seater rear wheel drive sports car.
“The Dodge EV sets a new standard for what can be expected in electric-drive vehicles,” said Lou Rhodes, Vice President – Advance Vehicle Engineering, and President – ENVI. “The electric-vehicle technology enables a fun-to-drive performance sports car and helps redefine the vision of an environmentally responsible vehicle for the Dodge brand.”
The Dodge EV has a 200 kW electric motor, giving it the equivalent of 268 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. It will go 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and has a 1/4 mile time of 13 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph.
The EV has a driving range of 150-200 miles. It can be recharged using the regular 110 volt outlet in 8 hours, or cut the time in half if you can use a 220 outlet.
Jeep EV
The Jeep EV is an extended range electric vehicle. The technology in the Jeep EV Wrangler is similar to that found in the Chevy Volt. It uses an electric motor to drive the wheels and a battery pack to drive the motor. The battery pack provides for 40 miles of zero emission driving. When the battery pack is depleted a small gas engine starts up and recharges the battery pack. Using eight gallons of gas the Jeep EV can go 400 miles.
The electric motor in the Jeep EV is a 200 kW motor that provides 200 horsepower and 295 lb-ft torque.
“We are also exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of ENVI’s advanced electric-drive technologies,” said Rhodes.
The instant torque provided from the electric motor and the ability to drive each wheel independently makes the Jeep EV a great offroading vehicle and right at home in the Jeep line up.
Chrysler EV
ENVI used the same technology that is found in the Jeep EV and put it in a Chrysler Town and Country minivan to make the Chrysler EV.
“With the Chrysler EV, we are able to blend seven-passenger capability and the luxury of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan with electric-drive technology, demonstrating family practicality with zero compromise,” said Rhodes. “ENVI’s electric-drive development vehicles showcase our accelerated application of electric-drive systems into a wide range of vehicles in Chrysler’s future product portfolio.”
The Chrysler EV uses a 190 kW motor to drive the front wheels. The motor provides 255 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 is an acceptable 9 seconds. Using battery power alone the Chrysler EV can go 40 miles, after that a small gas engine generator kicks in to recharge the batteries. Using about 8 gallons of gas the Chrysler EV can go 400 miles.
This morning on CNBC Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli revealed the Dodge EV, a high performance sports car similar to the Tesla Roadster. Along with the EV he announced three other vehicles operating on an electric powertrain.
The four vehicles are made by ENVI, the electric drive division of Chrysler. In addition to the EV they include an extended range Chrysler minivan, a new “gated community” electric called “the peapod” and a Jeep Wrangler four-door.
The EV not only operates entirely on plug-in power like the Tesla Roadster it but it appears to have similar performance numbers. The design has some striking visual similarities with the Tesla. And why shouldn’t it? While the Tesla’s built on the Lotus Elise, the Dodge ev appears to be based on the Lotus Europa.
Here are some numbers:
• Recharge on standard home 110/220 current — full charge in four hours on 220 or eight hours on 110.
• Eschews the Hemi engine for a lithium-ion battery pack.
• 0-to-60 time in under five seconds.
• Range of 150-200 miles.
• Unlike the Tesla, based on the Lotus Elise, the Dodge ev looks to be based on the Lotus Europa.
