The Dodge EV (left) seems the most feasible to produce of the three given that it follows the same basic formula as the Tesla Roadster. The car is basically a Lotus Europa with a 268 hp electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. Chrysler said it is capable of going 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and has a top-speed of more than 120 mph. Lotus will likely make an announcement today about a partnership with Chrysler, Automotive News reports.
The other two vehicles, based on the Jeep Wrangler (left) and Chrysler Town & Country (top), are both extended range electric vehicles much in the vein of GM’s 2011 Chevrolet Volt. They each have an electric motor like the Dodge EV, along with small gasoline engines to act as generators. Chrysler said they both can go 40 miles on batteries alone, and have an additional 400 miles of range on about 8 gallons of gasoline. For the Jeep, Chrysler is exploring the possibility of in-wheel motors to add four-wheel-drive electric capability. All the cars, Chrysler said, are the product of its recently established ENVI organization.
Chrysler has set a target production date of 2010, which is increasingly looking to be the Year of the Electric Car. As cool as the Dodge EV looks, we’re rooting for one of the more utilitarian extended range vehicles. Either one would leapfrog the Volt by integrating similar technology into a more versatile package.
Of course, bringing any of the cars to market will present significant challenges. Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli hinted at job-cuts the cash strapped company might have to make to get an electric vehicle to market, especially if the government does not come through with $25 billion in loans.
“We'll have to make some tough, gut wrenching trade-offs," he said.