Chrysler was very secretive about making their electric cars. It started with a mandate in July of 2007 to make working prototypes by summer of 2009. Chrysler took different people from all over the company and put them in their own skunkworks like group and were told to just get it done. They have an unknown budget which probably means that it’s big. No one knows much about it or how far along they are with their vehicles.
“We were completely shocked here,” when Chrysler announced the vehicles on Sept. 23, said Tracy Handler, an automotive product analyst at Global Insight Inc. in Troy, Michigan. “And probably skeptical a little bit as to how real these are.”
Until the announcement a few weeks ago, that Chrysler would have an electric vehicle for sale in 2010, Chrysler didn’t figure into the fuel efficient market and it certainly didn’t figure into the electric car market.
“It’s going to be tough for them to pull this off,” said Mike Omotoso, a Troy, Michigan-based analyst at market-research firm J.D. Power & Associates. “It’s unlikely that Chrysler will have the resources or technology to develop production vehicles by its 2010 goal,” he said.
So far the major competition in the electric car market is the Volt, made by GM. Nissan has announced that it wants to have a 100 mile range electric vehicle soon, but haven’t announced a date. Likewise, Toyota hasn’t set a date for their plugin Prius either.
Lou Rhodes, the Chrysler VP in charge of the ENVI division plans to attend the Automotive News Green Car Conference. At the conference Rhodes will address many questions about the ENVI program and give an update on Chrysler’s progress on it’s electric cars. Chrysler only plans on releasing one of the EVs in 2010 with others to follow so I’d expect one of the three EVs announced to be pretty far with the other two lagging behind somewhat.
With a target sales date of 2010 Chrysler’s ENVI division has a lot of work to do between now and then. Usually it takes a much longer time to bring a new car to market, let alone a car with all new technology. Usually the technology jumps are small new incorporations of additional features or more power/mileage. The vehicles that ENVI is working on are technological leaps, not small jumps.
In order to get that amount of work done in such a small amount of time ENVI will need free reign to do what they need to do. Having to deal with the corporate bueracracy that is all to common in big companies would hinder ENVI to the point of failure.
“ENVI will operate as a ’start-up’ with an entrepreneurial environment,” said Thomas W. LaSorda, Chrysler vice chairman and president in a company press release from Sept. 13, 2007. “The organization is empowered to leverage the vast resources within Chrysler to develop appropriate solutions quickly. The unique structure will facilitate a speed-to-market development process.”
Being able to operate independently is paramount to success for ENVI.
It’s no coincidence that both Chrysler extended range vehicles (Town and Country and Wrangler) announced boast the same 40 mile electric only range that the Chevy Volt does. According to studies 80% of americans drive 40 miles or less per day. That means that the 40 miles of battery power allows most people that buy an extended range electric vehicle to not use gas on a daily basis. However, GM has worked hard and made some compromises with the aerodynamics of the Volt to achieve the 40 mile range of the vehicle. Both of Chrysler’s vehicles are not nearly as aerodynamic.
The answer is all in the batteries. Battery storage capacity is measured in watt-hours, more or less the total amount of energy used over time. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is simply a thousand watt-hours and this is what’s used to measure big batteries, the kind used in modern hybrids. The Chevy Volt uses a 16 kWh battery and only really functions within a range of 50-80% charge in order to extend battery life.
The Chrysler EV uses a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery which operates at 200 kW and up to 410 volts, it’s paired with an electric motor that produces 268 HP with a whopping 480 lb-ft of torque. Together you get 40 miles of battery powered driving.
The Jeep EV uses a 27 kWh battery pack. It has to be big since the Wrangler isn’t aerodynamic at all (brick) and it has to power all 4 wheels. Interestingly it’s paired with the same motor as the Chrysler EV, which maintains the 268 HP but drops the torque down to 295. The lower torque number is probably there to extend the range, though I’d like to see the crazy 480 lb-ft of torque that’s found in the Chrysler EV.
In both cases it comes down to larger battery packs. Since the Volt is small it doesn’t have much space to store the batteries. The Chrysler EV and the Jeep EV are considerably larger allowing for bigger batteries. Allowing all three vehicles to achieve 40 miles on battery power.
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.
A123, Watertown, Mass., is a seven-year-old company vying to break into the nascent market for lithium-ion battery packs for automobiles. A123 is in the running to supply batteries for the Chevrolet Volt, the electric car General Motors Corp. is developing.
A deal to supply Chrysler would give a boost to A123’s business ahead of a planned initial public stock offering. It registered for the offering in August.
A spokeswoman for Chrysler said the company “has nothing to announce at this time” about suppliers for its electric car. An A123 spokesman declined to comment, noting the company is in a quiet period because of its registration for an IPO.
Chrysler has been keeping its work on electric cars under tight wraps. But in recent weeks, as GM’s Volt drew heavy media attention, Chrysler management became concerned that the company was being left out of the increasing buzz about electric vehicles, people familiar with the matter said.
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.
On this Tuesday Chrysler is going to unveil and electric car to the public. Some speculate that the announcement is an effort to cheer up dealers. But when you really cut through it, electric cars are going to be a big part of the future of the auto industry and Chrysler is not going to be left in the dust. I think that the announcement is a strategic effort to turn around the notion that Chrysler is going bankrupt, that it doesn’t have any green cars, that it doesn’t have a future.
According to sources the electric car will go 40 miles on a battery charge. When the battery is depleted a small gas engine will run to power an electric generator. Sounds a lot like the Chevy Volt. My guess is that like the hybrid SUVs, the cylinder deactivation in the current V8 engines, and the new phoenix V6 Chrysler and GM are working together on this project.
ENVI is an in-house Chrysler organization, it was formed late last year with a focus on establishing electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies. Team members were selected for their exceptional skills in portfolio management, modular architecture, product engineering, manufacturing, design, and procurement and supply.
“ENVI has an entrepreneurial small company spirit that can apply the vast resources available at Chrysler to create environmentally responsible vehicles customers aspire to own,” said Lou Rhodes, President – ENVI, Chrysler LLC. “With ENVI, Chrysler will be able to quickly address the unique dynamic that is taking place between changing consumer attitudes, the worldwide regulatory landscape, and the acceleration of propulsion technologies.”
Providing exceptional fuel economy and reducing emissions is part of Chrysler’s environmental commitment, thus allowing customers to make environmentally responsible choices without compromising their mobility needs.
“Electrically driven vehicles are zero emission vehicles,” said Rhodes. “Generating electricity from renewable sources to power tomorrow’s vehicles breaks the dependency on fossil fuels and promotes the development of renewal and clean energy production.”
