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Chrysler has shown ‘ENVI’ electric vehicles based on four distinct platforms from Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep at the Detroit Motor Show. The company claims its first electric vehicle will be produced in 2010 (for the US) with three additional models in production by 2013.
Chrysler says it expects to have 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2013.
The new Jeep Patriot EV uses the ENVI Range-extended Electric Vehicle drive system. Like all Chrysler Range-extended Electric Vehicles, the Patriot EV uses an integrated small-displacement engine and electric generator to produce additional electricity to power the electric-drive system when needed.
Dodge showcases a new version of its all-electric sports car: the Dodge Circuit EV. The Dodge Circuit EV boasts a range of 150-200 miles with zero petrol consumption and zero tailpipe emissions.
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV is a Range-extended Electric Vehicle that can still “Go Anywhere, Do Anything”.
The Chrysler Town & Country EV is a family ‘minivan ‘ vehicle which can deliver 40 miles of all-electric range, or 400 in total.
The development of Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles and Range-extended Electric Vehicles is led by ENVI – representing the first four letters of “environmental” – the Company’s in-house organisation that was formed in late 2007 to focus on electric-drive production vehicles and related advanced technologies.
Chrysler will apply its ENVI electric-drive technology to each of its brands, and to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms.
Chrysler’s ENVI-powered Electric Vehicles utilise just three primary components; an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor, and a controller that manages energy flow.
ENVI Electric Vehicle technology is designed to provide customers with vehicles that achieve zero tailpipe emissions and a 150 to 200 mile driving range. Nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year.
Recharging a Chrysler all-electric vehicle is a simple one-step process: plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet. The recharge time can be cut in half by using a typical 220-volt household appliance power outlet.
The Range-extended Electric Vehicle combines the electric-drive components of the ENVI Electric Vehicle with a small petrol engine and integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles – with no compromises in performance.
ENVI’s Range-extended Electric Vehicles can travel 40 miles on battery power alone using zero petrol and producing zero tailpipe emissions. A small internal combustion engine and integrated generator produces electricity that extends the range to 400 miles.
The recharging process and time for a Range-extended Electric Vehicle is the same as an all-electric vehicle, using either a 110-volt or 220-volt outlet.
