Detroit Preview: Chrysler's Jeep Patriot ER-EV
standard Jeep Patriot
Looks like Chrysler is still a day late and at least $7 billion short. While the company announced yesterday that it would shut down its plants for a month, the news is out today that the smallest of the Big Three will try to put its best face forward and bring an electric Jeep Patriot (with range extender, like the Renegade) to the Detroit Auto Show next month. How do we know this? Because Chrysler doesn't like the blogs.
After trying to keep a lid on its upcoming auto show debuts by not inviting bloggers to the preview backgrounders, Jalopnik was able to squeeze some not-too-inspiring information out somehow - and then promptly put the information on the web. We don't know too many details about the Jeep Patriot EV, but we do know it has a claimed range of 40 miles on battery post. The Patriot EV is the fourth vehicle from Chrysler's ENVI unit, following the Dodge EV and the EVs based on the Town and Country Van and the Jeep Wrangler. The standard 2009 Jeep Patriot gets 28 mpg hwy, 23 mpg city and starts at around $15,683 on the market. The Jeep Patriot EV will cost, well, we'll just wait until it's more than vaporware to start thinking about that.
Gallery: 2007 Jeep Patriot
This post has been updated to remove wrong information.
[Source: Jalopnik via Autoblog]
Chrysler's forthcoming auto show debuts (from Autoblog):
2009 Detroit Auto Show
- Jeep Patriot EV, fourth member of the ENVI division's EV family
- Dodge Ram HD
2009 Chicago Auto Show
- Dodge Ram Chassis Cab trucks
2009 New York Auto Show
- Redesigned 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Beyond
- Redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger with all-new interiors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MemphisNET 2:27PM (12/18/2008)
I know its fun/popular to hate on Chrysler, but people still like CUV's, SUV's & trucks. This kind of product makes sense in that you can still offer a vehicle that people want (never mind if they NEED it) and provide an efficient package.
My daily commute is 30miles. Goto work and back in comfort with 4x4 and not burn a drop of gas sounds good to me.
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Eric Veltman 2:55PM (12/18/2008)
(Yes, I know, the heavyweights in this topic are _relatively_ efficient, but still way less efficient than a more minimalistic car. So here I go:)
Perhaps I sound too much like a communist now, but I wouldn't mind if governments regulate (through licensing) who is allowed to own such heavyweights. If you are a farmer and travel on muddy roads a lot, perhaps transport a lot too, I can imagine that you need a powerful 4x4.
If you live in a city and only drive on paved roads, I don't think it makes any sense to own such car and it is completely anti-social.
Your choice of car isn't entirely 'your own business', you pollute the world with your car and the world is 'everyone's business'.
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JDred 11:54AM (12/19/2008)
Perhaps? No Eric you've gone gone past Communist to being a Maoist!
Like it or not we have what is called "Freedom of Choice" in this country. If you feel the need to have the Govt. control how you and others live their lives, I suggest that you move to such a society. If you don't like the fact that some choose to own an inefficient vehicle, too bad! it's their choice, not yours!
Your mindset is one of the problems that I have with the Green movement. You want to impose your beliefs on others rather than promote them. That's why you get referred to as a "Watermelon" Green on the outside, Red on the inside.
Eric Veltman 12:23PM (12/19/2008)
I already expected this reaction. That's so narrowminded. It's either communism or democracy, no place for a mix of both.
In Europe there are very successful examples of social-democracy: the goodness of freedom combined with the goodness of government control for issues where civilians simply behave irresponsible (like choosing an inefficient car because it looks so good on you).
JDred 7:07PM (12/19/2008)
Because I cherish freedom and individuality that makes me "Narrowminded"? Yeah. But you are right, there is no mix for both because of one very good reason. One will cancel out the other.
I'd like to see these "sucesses". I see people being crushed under excessive taxation and govt. reguations in the name of "The enviroment". What you can't understand is that we as Americans don't like to live that way and became our own Nation because of the very same reasons. And eastern europe, having actually experienced what Communism does and ultimately becomes, are shaking their heads at the direction western Europe thinks is the way to go.
Sorry Eric, like I said, if you feel that you need control over your life feel free to move to where you think it's better. If you feel the need to control what others do because you don't like it. Then you just need to leave.
If alternative vehicles are to succeed they need to meet three criteria. Viability, affordability and practicality. Right now, they have a way to go before meeting any of those goals. And having the Govt. force people through regulation and taxation before they meet those goals will ensure they meet failure.
Eric Veltman 5:09AM (12/20/2008)
Hello JDred,
I guess I'm not going to convince you and you're not going to convince me, so this is my last comment. You seem to be convinced that the American system is perfect, immutable and 'the only way'.
You talk about people being 'crushed' by high taxation and government regulations in western Europe. Well, I don't feel that way at all and neither do most of the people. Yes, there are always people who complain. Anywhere in the world, people will say that taxes are too high. And whatever system you have in your part of the world, there will always be rules that you don't like.
Come and visit us and see how oppressed we are. When you visit by the way, you'll probably notice that something must be good: we drive much more efficient cars and have done so for years.
Best regards,
Eric
Bill Max 5:43PM (12/18/2008)
Huh, yeah. If the GMC is into ER-EV, that's probably the way to go. What a disaster. No wonder why GMC and Chrysler are in trouble.
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freshforged 8:04PM (12/18/2008)
Is it really so hard to do a little research? The vehicles announced so far from ENVI have nothing to do with the ecoVoyager, Renegade, and ZEO, which were clearly show cars with no intention of reaching production introduced a full calendar year ago.
You might want to reference the Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler EV prototypes announced several months ago.
Perhaps this is why Chrysler doesn't respect automobile blogs...
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Sebastian 2:25PM (12/19/2008)
whoops. i got the vaporware mixed up. i've fixed the post, and thanks for pointing it out.
Jay 12:28PM (1/14/2009)
Yes,It seems popular to hate on Chrysler and not for the right reasons either.But it's been going on for years.Chrysler invented/Pioneered the fuel cell technology and made it viable for automobiles but all you hear in the media and in these blogs are the Honda fuel cell cars and how green Honda is regardless in many areas how much further ahead Chrysler is in the technology.Hello,Honda wouldn't even have that car if it wasn't for Chrysler.
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