The Dodge Circuit EV, Chrysler 200C EV, Chrysler Town & Country EV, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV and Jeep Patriot EV concepts were all part of Chrysler's Detroit Auto Show presentation with one of the five destined for production in 2010, assuming, of course, Chrysler successfully extends its 83 year heritage with our, the taxpayer, help.
The Dodge Circuit EV all-electric two-seater sports car is proof electric doesn't have to be ugly, in fact, it can actually have performance stats that impress including a 150-200 mile range per charge from its 268-horsepower electric motor with an advanced lithium-ion battery system. The Dodge Ciruit EV has a zero to 60 mph time of less than 5 seconds hitting a top speed of more than 120 mph and even has regenerative braking to charge the battery. If it looks like a Lotus, it should, it's based on the Europa. At this point, the Circuit is a proto-type.
The Chrysler 200C EV is a mini-300 though the wheelbase is only about 4 inches shorter and is capable of driving up to 40 miles on battery-only power - using zero gasoline and producing zero tailpipe emissions - the 200C EV uses a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator that produces electricity to extend the driving range to 400 miles.
That's Ralph Gilles, Chrysler vice president of design explaining UConnect, Chrysler's Big Brother system to track your teen using W-Fi and satellite technology and an on-board camera to see who's driving and even regulate maximum speed and monitor erratic driving. If teens aren't your worry, you can store your personal settings including internet radio and MP3 access. The front seat passenger can access the internet which overcomes my pet peeve of current vehicles not recognizing a passenger who can program the nav system while in motion. All functions are managed by a touchscreen.
Like the 200C, the Patriot, Wrangler and Town & Country are also so-called "range-extended" electric vehicles which means they drive up to 40 miles on all-electric power and then have a range of 400 miles on about eight gallons of gas.
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