Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
Chrysler is showing the Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV, and says at least one of the prototypes will be developed for sale in the US in 2010 and Europe later.
Chrysler will also have around 100 electric vehicles operating in government, business and development fleets by 2009.
The US carmaker says it will apply its electric-drive technology to front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and body-on-frame four-wheel drives in the next few years.
“We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer,” says Chrysler CEO, Bob Nardelli.
“The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future, and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market.”
Chrysler’s EVs (electric vehicles) use 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.
The Range-extended Electric Vehicle (REV) combines the electric-drive components with a small petrol engine and integrated electric generator to power the electric-drive system when needed.
That provides an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to petrol-powered vehicles and with no compromises in performance.
“Range-extended Electric Vehicles offer environmental responsibility without giving up driving range, comfort or utility,” says Chrysler.
