These are the first shots we've seen of an undisguised Dodge EV, suggesting the 2-seater could be getting readied for a launch as early as 2010.
Chrysler is getting charged up about electric vehicles. In a surprise move, last year, the ailing American automaker rolled out a trio of battery-powered vehicles that it announced would go into production during the coming decade. Vice Chairman Jim Press has since said that one of them is set to debut as early as 2010. But which one?
Would it be the Jeep EV, a modified version of the Dodge Wrangler? Or perhaps the Chrysler EV, which starts out as a Town & Country minivan? Both of these products fit into the Plug-in Hybrid – or, if you prefer, the extended-range electric – category, since they use a combination of lithium-ion batteries and an electric motor drive system paired with a conventional gasoline engine.
Well, if what we saw rolling down Woodward Ave., Detroit’s main drag, this past weekend, is any indication, the ailing automaker is getting ready to make a move with the third of its EV trio, the little Dodge EV. The sexy little 2-seater fits into the pure battery car category. If the basic design looks familiar, that’s because it starts out as a Lotus Europa modified to accept a lithium-ion battery pack, electric motor and computer control system.
Based on the Lotus Europa, but showing a bit of influence from the Dodge Demon concept, the battery roadster is expected to launch from 0 to 60 in less than 5 seconds and deliver up to 200 miles range per charge.
In production, company officials claim the DodgeEV would actually outperform the turbocharged, gasoline-powered Lotus Europa, upon which it is based, launching from 0 to 60 in less than five seconds and hitting a top speed of 120 mph. Significantly, the target range is 150 to 200 miles per charge. Chrysler insiders tell us they’d like to punch up the performance numbers even more, hoping to take on the $100,000 Tesla Roadster, but at a significantly lower price point.
While we’ve seen a couple heavily camouflaged “mules” testing the Dodge EV drivetrain, these pics mark the first time we’ve seen – or heard about – an undisguised version of the electric sports car running around on public roads, and the highly refined appearance – plus the fact that the EV was peppy enough to keep some distance from our spy photographer, Len Katz – suggest that it is reaching a level of production viability.
Whether the Dodge EV or any other new Chrysler product, for that matter, makes it to market remains highly uncertain, of course. The automaker has currently shut down all of its assembly operations and won’t reopen them unless and until it emerges from bankruptcy. That process is speeding along, however, and it’s starting to look increasingly likely the “new” Chrysler could survive Chapter 11 and then complete the proposed alliance with Italy Fiat SpA, perhaps before the summer is out.
All three of the electric prototypes are being developed by Chrysler’s ENVI unit, which is charged with developing street-ready battery vehicles. Chrysler also operates GEM, which focuses on golf cart-sized EVs for more limited usage, such as on college campuses and retirement villages.
Photos (c) Len Katz, 2009, for TheDetroitBureau.com