Autoblog Green

Diesel back in the picture at Chrysler, start-stop in Q4 2010

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST

Based on the presentation by Paolo Ferrero at the Chrysler business plan meeting in Auburn Hills today, it sure sounds like diesel is back in the picture at Chrysler. Prior to the Daimler-Chrysler divorce, there were lots of plans for diesel installations in U.S.-market Chryslers. That all fell by the wayside during the Cerberus era. Ferraro, the new SVP of powertrain engineering at Chrysler, repeatedly mentioned diesel as one of the paths to reduced fuel consumption, although he didn't give any specific dates on when they might be introduced in the U.S.

Ferraro did say that Chrysler would "Reinforce the Clean Diesel Image" and adapt Fiat engines to Chrysler vehicles. He also said they would apply aftertreatment technologies to meet 2015 European and U.S. emissions standards.

Ferraro went on to say that Chrysler would add automatic start-stop beginning in the 2011 model year and showed a diagram of a 2010 Jeep Wrangler diesel in Q4 2010. A Wrangler diesel is offered overseas but will switch to Fiat engines next year. Hopefully, Fiat will start bringing these diesels to the U.S., too.

[Source: Chrysler]

Diesel back in the picture at Chrysler, start-stop in Q4 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler owners' manuals go digital for 2010, saves 20,000 trees

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Green Daily

2010 Jeep Liberty Owners' Manual - Click above to enlarge

It was bound to happen sooner or later. For the 2010 model year, Chrysler will no longer be providing traditional owners' manuals on any of its vehicles. Instead, all Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep cars and trucks will come with "a consolidated, customer-friendly user guide and DVD." That consumer guide will be comprised of 60-80 pages in full color and will cover the most commonly-needed information.

While some will surely miss their thick paperback owners' manuals, Chrysler cites a number of benefits to the switch. For instance, dropping the four-pound books will save 930 tons of paper annually, which equates to about 20,000 trees. We'd also bet it's more informative to watch a video on DVD giving the proper procedure to fold down a Jeep Wrangler's notoriously stubborn soft top than reading about it in print.

Oh, and we'd also guess the Pentastar is saving a good bit of cash by making this switch. Full press release after the break if you're interested in all the sordid details.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler owners' manuals go digital for 2010, saves 20,000 trees

Chrysler owners' manuals go digital for 2010, saves 20,000 trees originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Jeep? Fiat launches Panda 4X4 Adventure

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:24:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Jeep, Fiat, Europe/EU

Could this or something like it be the next Trail Rated Jeep here in the United States? Possibly, if current speculation that Fiat will bring its long-running Panda line to the U.S. in 2011 to fill the hole left by the expected cancellation of the mostly unloved Jeep Compass and Patriot twins.

Fiat's latest edition of the Panda is called the 4X4 Adventure and it's already painted up in a Jeep-appropriate green hue that's supposed to 'emphasize the car's bond with nature and Fiat's eternal special attention to the environment and sustainable transport.' Powered by a choice of four cylinder engines ranging from a 1.2-liter unit with just 60 horsepower to a 1.3-liter Multijet mill with a slightly more respectable 70 horsepower, this Panda is likely to be a fuel sipper.

Drivers in Italy get first crack at the new Panda 4X4 Adventure and Fiat promises to roll the new model out in the rest of Europe in short order. Pricing starts at 14,100 Euros (a shade under $20K in U.S. dollars), though that's not directly comparable to what it may cost if it ever makes it Stateside since it also includes value added taxes.

[Source: DueMotori.com]

Future Jeep? Fiat launches Panda 4X4 Adventure originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20 fuel sipping diesel SUV/CUV/crossovers available in Germany

Xavier Navarro — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, MPG, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, Renault, Europe/EU, Germany

Modern compact SUVs don't need to drink fuel at quite the rate of their larger, more easily spotted cousins (HUMMER, Range Rover, we're looking at you). Over in Europe, drivers have opened their arms to compact SUVs as an alternative to sedans and mini vans. Current offerings share car platforms and can be found with the decent-mileage diesel engines. How frugal are these mid-size SUVs, really? Follow us after the jump and you will see the 20 most economical compact SUVs available in Germany (check out last year's CO₂-based list here).

Gallery: Toyota Urban Cruiser

[Source: Auto News]

Continue reading 20 fuel sipping diesel SUV/CUV/crossovers available in Germany

20 fuel sipping diesel SUV/CUV/crossovers available in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 07 May 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 2007 Wrangler Unlimited CRD

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:49:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Jeep

click above for a high res gallery of this Jeep Wrangler Unlimited CRD

To date, Jeep has offered two diesel-powered models to American consumers, a Liberty CRD that was discontinued when new emissions regulations took effect and the currently-available Grand Cherokee. Over in Europe, on the other hand, most Jeeps are available with a diesel engine option and at least one Wrangler fan has taken advantage of that fact. German Wranglers come with a VM Motori 2.8-liter four cylinder like the one formerly offered in the Liberty, so the seller of this unit on eBay ordered a full factory set of powertrain parts and had it installed in a 2007 Wrangler Unlimited. The Jeep is also equipped with the European gauge cluster that is required for the full wiring harness to work. Even though this is a conversion, it uses all factory parts and didn't require any kludging to install. As such, everything at least looks professional and original. Interested buyers in California or the north-east probably need not apply since this certainly won't pass emissions tests in those states.

Gallery: eBay Find: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited CRD

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: 2007 Wrangler Unlimited CRD originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2009: Chrysler's new flex-fuel V6 debuts in 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Flex-Fuel, MPG, Chrysler, Jeep

When Chrysler revealed the new Jeep Grand Cherokee this week in New York, it marked the first public appearance of the company's new V6 engine family. What had previously been referred to as the Phoenix is now officially dubbed the Pentastar V6. Over the next couple of years, variants of this engine will supplant all current 6 cylinder engines in Chrysler's lineup. Like its predecessors, the Pentastar has a 60 degree block angle but manufacturing process has been changed to high pressure diecasting. The initial 3.6-liter version has dual overhead camshafts with variable cam phasing.

The engines are designed to be lighter and more efficient than the units they replace. The first 3.6-liter is claimed to use eight percent less fuel than before, even with the port fuel injection it will have at launch. In the past, Chrysler has said these engines will also have direct injection which will probably appear on later variants. All of the Pentastar V6s will have flex fuel capability from launch.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading New York 2009: Chrysler's new flex-fuel V6 debuts in 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

New York 2009: Chrysler's new flex-fuel V6 debuts in 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ENVI boss Lou Rhodes talks about Chrysler's EV programs

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:22:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Lou Rhodes and the Dodge Circuit prototype

When Chrysler announced the creation of its ENVI division to spearhead the development of electric vehicles back in September 2007, it was seen by most as a knee-jerk response to the introduction of the Chevrolet Volt. When Chrysler debuted a trio of concepts a few months later at last year's Detroit Auto Show they were seen as the usual vapor that would never see production. Same story when another trio of converted production cars were shown last September. Compared to the Chevy Volt, these were seen as a half-baked attempt to grab some of the EV spot-light without building an optimized dedicated vehicle.

Last fall, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli announced that at least one of those vehicles would go into production by 2010. Last week Green Fuels Forescast sat down with ENVI President Lou Rhodes and Executive Engineer Doug Quigley to talk about the electric drive systems being developed in Auburn Hills. Rhodes and Quigley revealed some very interesting information about air vs. liquid cooled batteries, range-extender sizes and more. It turns out the development of these electric vehicles actually started back in late 2005, before the Volt was even conceived. Rhodes also promised that additional announcements about which vehicle would be built and who would supply batteries will be coming in the next few weeks.

[Source: Green Fuels Forecast]

ENVI boss Lou Rhodes talks about Chrysler's EV programs originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Jeep introduce new model based on Fiat Panda Cross?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:24:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat, USA

When Chrysler and Fiat announced that they were planning to join forces to better attack the worldwide auto market, the first question on all of our minds was which vehicles from Fiat the American side would import to the States? Much of the attention was focused on the little Fiat 500, and deservedly so. Small cars like the smart fortwo and MINI Cooper have proven that Americans will buy little machines as long as they are stylish, loaded with features and fun to drive.

Another vehicle that many enthusiasts are keenly interested in is the Fiat Panda, especially in its jacked-up off-road Cross trim. The overactive internet rumormill is now working on the idea that there's a possibility that the Panda Cross may make it Stateside wearing a Jeep badge. As long as we're dreaming, how 'bout throwing in the little 1.3L turbocharged diesel engine that powers it in Europe?

Chrysler's viability plan did include the introduction of a new Jeep in 2011, and the timing would be perfect to help the SUV maker meet looming fuel economy requirements. Before any of that can happen, though, the automaker has until the end of the month to prove it can survive as a viable company that's capable of repaying taxpayer-funded loans.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Could Jeep introduce new model based on Fiat Panda Cross? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Washington 2009: Riding in the Chrysler EVs [w/VIDEO]

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:06:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily, Washington DC Auto Show

Click above and scroll down to watch the video

People are rightly skeptical about whether or not the Chrysler electric vehicles will ever make it to market. For now, all we can say for sure is that some of Chrysler's EV prototypes can go for a spin around the Washington DC Convention Center. We were able to go for a ride in the Dodge EV and the Jeep ER-EV with Crysler's Douglas Quigley, executive of product engineering for ENVI (the Chrysler electric vehicle "start up") when we were in town last week, and you can see our video of the rides (no drives yet, sadly) after the jump.

Quigley said that it is not Chrysler's intention to sell 100,000 of the Dodge EVs a year. You can roll your own joke about that, but his explanation was that the battery pack that is good for 150 miles will be expensive and therefore the target audience is someone who wants to cruise through the city or on the track for a few hours on the weekend. He's got a lot more to say about these two vehicles in the video, including how they're being used for testing in Arizona, what might make it into a possible production version and how fun it is to drive the Lotus Europa-based Dodge EV.

Continue reading Washington 2009: Riding in the Chrysler EVs [w/VIDEO]

Washington 2009: Riding in the Chrysler EVs [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: How big is your footprint?

Domenick Yoney — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Jeep, Toyota, Lightweight

Click above and scroll down to watch the video

A couple of days ago, a Norwegian, know to us only as geisha44, uploaded to YouTube a nice little video meant to promote and provoke discussion. Consisting of wintry scenes from a bustling town in Norway, we are confronted by a sight unknown to many of the relatively balmy locales in the U.S. No, not the sled, though that would definitely qualify as rare, but rather the people walking on the sidewalks.

We also see some traffic and specifically observe three different choices that individuals made to reach a store. One took a Jeep, one took a Prius and the third arrives in a Kewet Buddy. Obviously, a four-wheel-drive Jeep may be handy to get about in a place that receives a lot of snow. On the other hand, the Prius hybrid is not home hiding in the garage until winter ends and has a smaller carbon footprint than the Jeep. With the arrival of the all-electric Kewet Buddy, whose lead-acid batteries haven't kept it garaged either, we are treated to a demonstration of another advantage of a truly small footprint. Want to see what it is? Hit the jump for a little thought provocation in action!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: How big is your footprint?

VIDEO: How big is your footprint? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Chrysler adds Jeep Patriot EV to its ER-EV lineup

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:08:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chrysler, Jeep, Detroit Auto Show

Click above for high-res gallery of the Jeep Patriot EV

Chrysler has added a fourth member to its family of prospective electric and extended range electric vehicles. The Jeep Patriot EV may be actually be the most viable member based on its relatively compact size. Like the larger Wrangler and Chrysler Town and Country, the Patriot uses electric drive with a lithium-ion battery pack of unknown capacity. The 150 kW motor drives the front wheels and the battery is claimed to give a 40-mile driving range on a charge. A 60-hp engine and generator extend the range to a claimed 400 miles. Acceleration to 60 mph is also claimed to be 8 seconds.

Since the Patriot shares its platform with the Dodge Caliber, this powertrain could easily be added to the latter model, as well. Interestingly, Chrysler has chosen to use a significantly smaller range extender than the drive motor. A 60-hp range extender should have no problem operating in charge sustaining mode. However, during acceleration the battery would have to draw on more of its buffer, dipping well below the 30% "depletion" threshold to provide sufficient power. This may all prove to be moot if Chrysler remains unsustainable as a going concern.

Gallery: Jeep Patriot EV

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Chrysler adds Jeep Patriot EV to its ER-EV lineup

Detroit 2009: Chrysler adds Jeep Patriot EV to its ER-EV lineup originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And this is how Chrysler thinks it will beat the Volt

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, GEM, Green Daily

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Dodge EV

While telling the feds that it needs seven billion dollars - pronto! - just to keep the lights on, representatives for Chrysler are also saying that their plans for affordable electric cars, minivans and off-roaders are already in place and will basically save the company. When we first saw the prototypes, we noticed that none of them seemed ready for prime time. Still, the word from Chrysler is that EVs are "going to be a big deal for Chrysler."

That's what Lou Rhodes, Chrysler's vice president for advanced vehicle engineering, recently told CNNMoney. Chrysler has also said that it could be selling electric cars to fleets by 2009 and to the rest of us a year later; also, the company says that half of its vehicles could be electric drive by 2020. Ambitious goals, sure, but how seriously can we take them when they're asking for the big bucks and the Chrysler hybrids SUVs have already passed us by?

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler EVs

[Source: CNNMoney]

And this is how Chrysler thinks it will beat the Volt originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As Chrysler deathwatch continues, most '09s get mileage tweaks

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Things are not looking good in Auburn Hills these days. It's looking increasingly like Chrysler is about to head off to hospice to live out its final days as Cerberus has given up on trying to revive the littlest of the Detroit 3. But even as the turkey vultures circle outside waiting for the carcass to cool off, the engineers in the tech center are still trying to show some signs of life, no matter how meek. To that end they have been working away, trying to tweak the mileage numbers of most of the lineup. They have managed to improve the numbers of 73 percent of the surviving models for 2009. With the exception of the soon to be euthanized Durango and Aspen hybrids, the improvements are only 1-2 mpg but when you don't have much to work with, you do what you can. Considering most of the models had no significant hardware upgrades, getting what they did is something of an achievement. Unfortunately, it may all be for naught soon as Chrysler seems almost certain to be killed off either by absorption or liquidation. The Chrysler press release is after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading As Chrysler deathwatch continues, most '09s get mileage tweaks

As Chrysler deathwatch continues, most '09s get mileage tweaks originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler: Half of all cars electric by 2020

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, GEM, USA

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Dodge EV

We've taken a good look at each of the three electric vehicle concepts that Chrysler took the wraps off of last week, plus one extra for good measure. For various reasons, none of these vehicles really seems quite ready for prime time - one is based on a Lotus sportscar chassis, two require huge battery packs and the last is limited to 25 miles per hour. Tough bring those to market. Still, Chrysler says it plans to launch one of them by 2010 in the U.S. with European delivery scheduled a bit later. We'll see. If that does happen, Chrysler's EV would join the Chevy Volt as the first mainstream(-ish) cars in the States not powered by gasoline in a very, very long time.

If Chrysler's predictions are accurate, though, don't expect the market to stay petroleum-dependent for long. In fact, Chrysler's executive vice president of product development, Frank Klegon, has said that half the cars sold here in 2020 will feature electric power. That's a long way to go in just a decade. In any case, the future promises lots of interesting things for the domestic auto market.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler EVs

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

Chrysler: Half of all cars electric by 2020 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Chrysler's new EVs in action

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Jeep EV

Along with all the photos of its new battery-powered vehicles, Chrysler yesterday also provided some video footage. The clips after the jump include Chrysler VP for ENVI, Lou Rhodes, discussing the electric vehicle program, and running footage of the Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep EVs. There isn't much new here but you might want to see these vehicles in action, silently humming along as they do their business. Although Chrysler has made some bold claims, it will be interesting to see which if any of these ever make it to mass production. The Jeep in particular is interesting because if Chrysler can build a commercially viable Jeep EV it could also presage a similar RAM.

Related:

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler EVs

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading VIDEO: Chrysler's new EVs in action

VIDEO: Chrysler's new EVs in action originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler execs talk about new electric vehicles

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Jeep EV

As we wrap up Chrysler EV day, Vice-Chairman Tom LaSorda, EVP-Product Development Frank Klegon and Chief Innovation officer Peter Arnell held a conference call to discuss their new offspring. As one might expect, the trio were deliberately vague on a lot of details but they did tell us a few things. Given Chrysler's partnership with General Motors on the Two-Mode Hybrid system (along with Daimler and BMW), it seems reasonable to ask if the cooperation extends to the ER-EV platforms. Klegon made it clear that Chrysler has done all the development of these vehicles in-house and with their suppliers. GM played no part in creating these vehicles, other than maybe some inspiration.

Development started in early 2007, and then moved into the ENVI group when it was formed one year ago. LaSorda emphasized that no production battery supplier has been selected and Chrysler is working with a number of vendors, including A123 Systems. Given that the Jeep and Chrysler have significantly larger battery packs than the Volt, that also points to a higher price. None of the officials would talk about potential pricing at this point but they did acknowledge that they are looking at some different models. They couldn't say which vehicle would be the first to be produced, that will depend on performance during development. They also said that these three will almost certainly not be the only such vehicles produced. The Dodge will likely get some styling tweaks to give it more of a family look before production. We'll be looking for a lot more details in the coming weeks and months.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler EVs

[Source: Chrysler]

Chrysler execs talk about new electric vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Specs on Chrysler's new EV lineup, bigger batteries than the Volt

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Dodge EV

Now that we've had some time to find the spec sheet for Chrysler's new EVs on the company's media site and then perusing it, we can answer some of the questions that initially came to mind from the press release. You might have noticed that Chrysler is claiming the same 40-mile electric range for its T&C and Wrangler ER-EVs that GM claims for the Chevy Volt. And yet GM had to completely redesign the car to minimize drag in order to achieve that range. How is Chrysler doing it with a brick shaped Jeep and a maxi-sized minivan? Why, more batteries of course. The Volt is spec'ed out with a 16 kWh battery pack. The Chrysler uses a nearly fifty percent larger 22 kWh pack while the Jeep goes all the way to 27 kWh. The Jeep actually has a larger pack than the Dodge/Lotus sports car which only has a 26 kWh pack. That raises both questions and answers. At 26 kWh, it only takes 4 hours to charge from a 220V / 30A outlet. That kind of charge time with a Tesla Roadster is only available with an 80A outlet. The question is how do they get the 150-200 mile range with a pack roughly have the size of the 53 kWh unit used by Tesla? You can read the full spec sheet here.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler EVs

[Source: Chrysler]

Specs on Chrysler's new EV lineup, bigger batteries than the Volt originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially, official: Chrysler's late 2010 electric vehicle lineup!

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Click the Dodge EV for a high res gallery

Chrysler is playing a massive game of catchup in the electric drive sweepstakes right now and today is rolling out four different vehicles that it's working on. Three of the four take ideas from the company's 2008 Detroit Show concepts and are currently badged simply as Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep EV. Like the Dodge ZEO, the Dodge is a lithium battery powered sports car. The EV begins with a Lotus Europa and dispenses with the 2.0L four cylinder engine and transmission in favor of a 268 hp electric motor. In much the same fashion as a certain Silicon Valley based start-up, the only way to fuel up the EV is with a plug. It will take 4 hours to charge up from a 220V outlet or twice that long if only half the voltage is available.

The other two concepts that Chrysler showed were both ER-EVs. The EcoVoyager used a fuel cell to keep a sufficient quantity of electrons available while the Jeep Renegade used a small diesel engine driving a generator. Since neither of these vehicles is ready for production yet, Chrysler's ENVI team has chosen the closest analogs they have as the basis for production models. Both the Town and Country and Wrangler Unlimited EVs are supposed to be able to move their occupants up to 40 miles without any direct combustion. Once the battery packs have reached depletion level an range extender kicks in to keep the fun going. Read on after the jump for more information.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler EVs

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Officially, official: Chrysler's late 2010 electric vehicle lineup!

Officially, official: Chrysler's late 2010 electric vehicle lineup! originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler announces Dodge EV, three other plug-ins on CNBC

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Ahead of a dealer video conference later today, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli spoke with CNBC this morning and unveiled the first product of its ENVI electric car division. Nardelli pulled the covers off of the Dodge EV which is based on the Lotus Europa. Like the Tesla Roadster which has a chassis derived from the Lotus Elise, the Europa is also based on an extended Elise chassis. ENVI has created the Dodge EV by adding electric drive and lithium ion batteries to the Europa for a plug-in range of 150-200 miles and 0-60 time of under 5 seconds. Like the Zeo concept unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, the Dodge EV is a pure electric sports car. Paralleling that, Chrysler is also showing a pair of extended range EVs based on the Town and Country Van and Jeep Wrangler. Like the Volt, both of these are expected to have a 40-mile battery range and 400-mile total range. The Jeep at least is also using four hub motors to provide individual torque control at each corner. The fourth vehicle in the lineup is the Pea-pod NEV. During the interview, Nardelli and Tom LaSorda indicated they are targeting a late 2010 launch for at least one of these vehicles. Chrysler will be making a more detailed announcement today at 1 p.m.

[Source: CNBC]

Chrysler announces Dodge EV, three other plug-ins on CNBC originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler's Jim Press making big claims for upcoming EVs

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:37:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Click the Dodge Zeo for a high-res gallery

Chrysler's co-president continued to talk up his employer's plans for electrically-driven vehicles this week at a media luncheon in California. Press told the gathering that he had driven three different producible prototypes of plug-in hybrid vehicles recently. The vehicles have been developed by the new ENVI unit that was established in late 2007 specifically to work on electric vehicles. According to Press, the vehicles can accelerate from 0-60 mph in four seconds and have a range of over 300 miles. Press hasn't said when these vehicles would be built, but earlier this summer, company officials indicated a 3-5 year timeline to produce such vehicles. If so that would put the company at least 1-2 years behind the expected launch of the Chevrolet Volt and a potential plug-in version of the Toyota Prius. For production, it's likely that the performance of the cars would be dialed back significantly in order to increase electric range although a higher-performance Dodge vehicle is not out of the question.

Gallery: Dodge Zeo Concept

Gallery: Chrysler EcoVoyager Concept

[Source: Los Angeles Times]
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Chrysler's Jim Press making big claims for upcoming EVs originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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