Chrysler may be struggling through one of the most serious financial situations of the company’s long and illustrious history, but that isn’t stopping the Michigan automaker from moving full speed ahead on its electric vehicle plans.
Last September Chrysler unveiled a trio of electric and hybrid concept vehicles, but a new report indicates those Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models were more than just a pipe dream for the struggling automaker.
According to Automotive News, Chrysler will unveil updated versions Chrysler EV, Dodge EV and Jeep EV at this month’s Detroit Auto Show. As you may recall, the Chrysler EV and Jeep EV used gasoline and electric motors – much in the same way as the 2010 Chevrolet Volt – while the Dodge EV used electric power only.
Of the three, the Dodge EV is believed to have the best chance of making production. Chrysler has indicated that it plans to have an electric vehicle to market by 2010, with the Lotus-based Dodge EV giving the automaker the best plug and play shot of reaching that goal. Our spy photographers recently spotted a prototype of the Dodge EV out testing with the brand’s corporate face, so it’s highly possible we’ll see the ‘cross-hair’ treatment at this month’s show.
01/05, 7:26 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
I would still hope for the DODGE ZEO, but that is looking less likely by the day.
CHRYSLER may be moving extremely fast to move these to production, either before money runs out or to get their @$$es properly in gear. At recent expositions, such as LA, they were chided for their very lacking presentation. Then again not many really made an effort for LA this year.
It is thought the the Chyrsler EV Minivan was just a very seriously bad rebadging. But if the case is that these are Serial Hybrids like the VOLT, then the tail pipe is a given. I just wish they had been more blunt about it.
Calling them Hybrids instead of EVs would have helped.
01/05, 7:35 PM
posted by:
CHMMX
Where are these spy pics? i want to see them?
And yeah, they’re not EVs they’re hybrids!
01/05, 9:15 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
We have so many e85 vehicles, they are all over town. Three filling stations in all of Canada. Toronto being the closest, 380 km away. So bad badging or not, thats all that really matters… pretty, green hybid, ev, or ng badge, to make the public feel good.
/gas is 67 cents a litre today.
01/05, 9:28 PM
posted by:
bmw 740i
“with the Lotus-based Dodge EV” why dont they just call it what it is… a LOTUS EUROPA instead of 24/7 rebadging
01/05, 9:56 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Just tell us for sure where you’re going with all this Chrysler. You got your bailout now let’s hear what you’re going to do with it and when. And besides these, whatever else you have up your sleeve I’d be putting on that stage in Detroit as well. The MOPAR natives are getting restless.
01/06, 12:23 AM
posted by:
darx_ider
Are these EV American cars real? I have been hearing about the Volt, Dodge EV…etc for over 5 years now. However, never seen any of them on the road!
01/06, 4:13 AM
posted by:
Ramatai
Isn’t this a picture iof the Lotus Europa or is it a clone of one
01/06, 7:58 AM
posted by:
Kris K
It´s a rebadged Europa with an electric driveline.
01/06, 10:35 AM
posted by:
Borat
I would call it “electrocution of tax dollars”. When I read about electric vehicles from ChryCo I have images of “Seinfield” with Costanza racing against old farts on electric chair in the streets of NYC.
01/06, 10:38 AM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
I remember watching a episode of TOP GEAR, (clearly the best car TV show ever!) and Clarkson chase a Toyota Prius driven by the “Stig” in a BMW M3 around their track, the Prius was at full blast around the track, it average 17MPG all out… The M3 with a lot less effort (mostly cruising) gave chase to the Prius. The M3 Average 19MPG in regular drive mode, never taping out the accelerator, didn’t need to, the Prius was to slow.
Clarkson’s conclusion, if you drive in a mannered way you can average good MPG in almost any car. The notion that the window sticker MPG is “what to look for” is fails, it is simply a estimate of what the vehicle can do.
I own a 2006 Ford F-150, 6 inch lift, 22″ wheels, 36″ Tire’s, Roush Supercharger, with 3.53 gears limited slip in the back, and I can still manage 15 MPG, if I just cruse in it, you may ask do I need to be driving that monster? Yes I go out to the Glammis Sand Dunes, and it look’s cool, my worst MPG in the truck, 7.3 MPG at least that’s what the truck tells me. The wife average 16 MPG in the Tahoe, and yes it is lowered, and on 24″…
So the question remains… Do we need more Eco Green Cars, or just Slow-Down-A-Bit……..