THE VEHICLES
DODGE EV
Shades of the Tesla Roadster. No surprise, since Tesla approached DaimlerChrysler with its technology a few years ago, but apparently was rebuffed. Though a similar idea, the specs of the Dodge's powertrain are much different. It's a two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive sports car with a 200 kW (268-horsepower) electric-drive motor that Chrysler says generates - get this -- 480 pound-feet of torque. It's combined with an advanced lithium-ion battery and an integrated power controller. To recharge, you'll plug into a standard 110-volt household
Performance claims:
0-60 mph = less than 5 seconds
Quarter mile = 13 seconds
Top-speed = 120 mph
Continuous driving range = 150 - 200 miles,"more than triple the daily commute of most consumers."
JEEP EV
Range-extended (see Chevy Volt) electric motor, advanced lithium-ion battery system and a small gas engine with an integrated electric generator. "We are also exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of ENVI's advanced electric-drive technologies," says Lou Rhodes, president of ENVI and vice president for advanced vehicle engineering. Like the Dodge, it has a 200 kW (268-horsepower) electric motor, rated 295 pound-feet of torque.
Performance claims:
Range: 400-miles on approximately eight gallons of gasoline, including 40 miles (like Volt) on pure electric operation.
CHRYSLER EV
This REV uses electric drive components, a small-displacement engine and a generator to power a conventional seven-passenger minivan. The motor makes 190 kW, or 255 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Chrysler says it will apply the minivan's system to other front-wheel-drive models.
Performance claims:
0-60 mph = approximately 9 seconds
Range: 400 miles on approximately eight gallons of gasoline, including 40 miles on pure electric operation.
Chrysler says all its electric vehicle development relies on an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system and a controller to manage energy flow. It can be applied to front-drive, rear-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive applications.
The Mopar mavens intend to get about 100 Chrysler electric vehicles on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets next year.
Meanwhile, Nardelli's new employer has partnered with his old employer, General Electric, and with the U.S. Department of Energy to research advanced energy storage. Chrysler and GE will work on Chrysler's dual-battery technology, which uses different kinds of batteries into a single battery pack in each vehicle to power different needs for that model.