"Details, Details! More Info On Chrysler's Electric Vehicle Trio" Green Car Advisor

Details, Details! More Info On Chrysler's Electric Vehicle Trio

Green Car Advisor was a bit early with our report Tuesday of Chrysler's unexpected but oh-so-welcome electric vehicle announcement, posting the bare bones of the story hours before the company held a press conference to lay out more detail.

We were in Portland covering a Toyota seminar on sustainable mobility when that happened and weren't able to make it to Chrysler HQ in Michigan for the show.

But colleague Michelle Krebs, senior editor of Edmunds Auto Observer, did attend and agreed to file an update to keep you all up to date.

Without further ado, heeeeere's Michelle's take on Chrysler's electric vehicles:

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler unveiled a trio of battery-electric and extended-range series hybrid electric cars Tuesday and said it would eventually offer some type of electric version of every model in its line.

The first will hit showrooms in the U.S. sometime in 2010. European consumers will get one shortly thereafter.

Chrysler would not say which of the three models unveiled this week - one for each of its marques -- would go into production, and executives said that work continues on all of them.

The Dodge EV is two-seat, rear-drive sports car based on the Lotus Europa, a stretched version of the Elise sold only in Europe.

Chrysler revealed that it now has a partnership with the British sports car maker, though details remain under wraps.

The Dodge EV coupe is equipped with a 200-kilowatt motor that produces an estimated 268 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, for a zero to 60 mile per hour time of less than five seconds and quarter mile of about 13 seconds.

Chrysler claims a top speed of 120 mph plus and a range from its advanced lithium-ion battery of 150 to 200 miles.

Batteries can be recharged in four to eight hours, depending on whether they are plugged into a 110- or 220-volt outlet.

The Chrysler and Jeep are both existing models retrofitted with a range-extending powerplant, similar in theory to that of General Motor's Chevrolet Volt.

The Jeep EV is based on the production Wrangler and intended to have the regular Wrangler's off-road capability.

It is equipped with an advanced lithium-ion battery and a small 1-liter gasoline engine with an integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed.

The 200-kilowatt electric motor generates 268 horsepower and 295 lbs.-ft. of torque.

With approximately eight gallons of gasoline, the Jeep EV has a range of 400 miles, including 40 miles of zero fuel-consumption, zero emissions, all-electric operation on the initial battery charge, Chrysler engineers said.

The automaker is exploring four-wheel drive that uses in-wheel electric motors.

The Chrysler EV, based on a production Town & Country minivan, also uses a small-displacement engine and generator to produce additional electricity to power the electric-drive system when needed.

Its 190 kW motor produces about 255 horsepower and 258 lbs.-ft. of torque, providing 0 to 60 mph acceleration in approximately nine seconds.

Like the Jeep, the 7-passenger Chrysler van can travel 40 miles on the initial battery charge before its and its gas engine kicks in to boost its range to 400 miles on approximately eight gallons of gasoline.

Thanks to their internal combustion engine-generators, the Jeep and Chrysler models belong to a new class of what is coming to be called extended range EVs.

Chrysler is working with outside suppliers for items like the batteries but has signed only development contracts, not purchase orders, said Frank Klegon, the automaker's executive vice president of product development.

Potential battery suppliers include Massachusetts-based A123 Systems, which also is competing for the contract to provide batteries for GM's extended-range Volt, also due in 2010.

Chrysler said it would put test models some of its electric vehicle offerings into commercial and utility fleets next year.
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For Auto Observer's full report, click here.