Green Fuels Forecast

(Sept. 23, 2008) Auburn Hills MI, based Chrysler LLC announces plans to begin building electric vehicles by the end of 2010 with the public introduction of four purely electric (EV) and extended range-electric vehicles (ER-EV). Unlike the Chevrolet Volt revealed last week, all four are based on existing platforms, but three use new technology based on lithium ion battery packs.

Three of the vehicles have full-speed electric drive capability and mirror the concepts revealed at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Like the ZEO concept, the Dodge brand gets a battery powered sports car dubbed the Dodge EV. Like the Tesla Roadster, the Dodge EV is based on a platform derived from a Lotus sports car, in this case the 2+2 Europa that is sold only in Europe. The Dodge EV swaps the original 2.0L four cylinder gasoline powertrain for a lithium ion battery pack and a 200kW electric motor.

Chrysler estimates the Dodge EV will reach 150-200 miles on a full charge of its battery and acceleration to 60 mph in under five seconds. Those stats put the performance of the EV close to the Tesla. Unlike the Roadster, which has all new bodywork, the Dodge EV currently retains the body of the donor Lotus.

The other two concepts from Detroit were the Chrysler EcoVoyager and Jeep Renegade, both ER-EVs, the former using a hydrogen fuel cell and the latter a small diesel engine. The new cars unveiled today, are based on the current Town and Country van and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited SUV. Both of these vehicles use a lithium ion battery pack that provides 40 miles of electric only driving range. Once the battery reaches the depletion level, a range extender consisting of a small gas engine and generator turns on to maintain charge on the battery and keep the vehicle operational for up to 400 miles.

The Jeep EV unveiled today uses the same 268 hp electric motor as the Dodge to drive all four wheels. The ENVI team is also evaluating the use of individual hub motors at each wheel that would provide separate drive torque control at all the wheels for improved off-road capability.

Jeep EV

The Town and Country based Chrysler EV uses a single 255 hp motor driving the front wheels. Both the Jeep and Chrysler have battery packs installed under the floor of the vehicle to minimize lost interior space. The Dodge uses an upright battery pack sitting behind the passenger compartment in a similar layout to the Tesla roadster.

Chrysler EV

The final vehicle unveiled today is a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) called the PeaPod. The PeaPod is based on an existing GEM NEV produced by Chrysler subsidiary Global Electric Vehicles but with a newly designed fully enclosed body. Initially the PeaPod will continue to use the inexpensive lead acid batteries used by other GEM vehicles. Eventually Chrysler plans to create a new higher speed electric city car based on the PeaPod design and lithium ion batteries.

All of the new vehicles have been developed by the new ENVI unit of Chrysler. ENVI was launched in late 2007 and structured as a startup company within the larger organization at Chrysler. The intention was to free the group from the normal product development bureaucracy, speeding new products to market.

During an interview with CNBC prior to the presentation, CEO Bob Nardelli and Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda both said they hope to have at least one of these vehicles in limited production by the end of 2010, ramping up to higher volumes through the 2011-2013 time-frame. Chrysler does plan to have at least 100 of these vehicles running in government, commercial and internal development test fleets during 2009.

This is a very aggressive time frame and Chrysler will be hard pressed to meet it even with EVs based on existing vehicles. Chrysler will also have a challenge meeting the performance targets with vehicles that aren't optimized for electric drive range. General Motors has made a major effort to minimize the aerodynamic drag of the Chevrolet Volt in order to maximize the regenerative braking potential of its ER-EV. Because Chrysler has chosen larger base vehicles, the company has more flexibility to package larger battery packs to reach the range targets. Unfortunately that will also add significantly to the cost. Chrysler has not provided any estimates of the cost of these new vehicles yet.