Chrysler Has Secretly Developed Electric Cars - 9/28/08

Chrysler announced the unveiling of a secret lineup of electric plug-in vehicles.  Chrysler is pledged to bring at least one of them to the market within two years.

Chrysler announced the launch of their ENVI program in 2007 aimed at developing electric cars.  Other than a few concept cars displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, very little information on the ENVI project has been given.  Now this move by Chrysler is aimed at stealing the spotlight from the Chevy Volt.

Of the three cars the most exciting is the two seat Dodge EV pure electric sports car with a range of 150 to 200 miles on a full charge.  Looking similar to the electric Tesla Roadster, Dodge has based the design on the same Lotus platform that Tesla has used. The Dodge EV will have advanced lithium-ion batteries which will power a 268 horsepower motor.  It will accelerate from 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds.

For the family vehicle the Chrysler EV minivan will be able to travel 40 miles on electric power only.  Designed similar to the Chevy Volt the Chrysler EV will have a small gasoline engine that can charge the batteries and extend the range of the vehicle up to 400 miles.  It will average 50 miles per gallon.

The third electric vehicle will be the Jeep EV which is a four door Wrangler Unlimited that used the same gas-electric combination as the Chrysler EV minivan. It will have four electric motors each powering one wheel.  This will give the Jeep EV the off road capability buyers have come to expect.

Chrysler is not saying which of the vehicles will be the first to come to the market or reveal any pricing.  They will have 100 of them on the road to test in 2009.  They also will enter the growing neighborhood electric vehicle market with the Peapod.  This is a four seat bubble car with a top speed of 25 miles per hour.  It is aimed at residents of gated communities.  The Peapod will drive up to 30 miles on one charge.

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