Chrysler Reveals Electric Sports Car on TV

Chrysler has been foundering in terms of its sales recently, and until this morning the automaker hadn’t revealed any hard evidence that it was serious about future electric or plug-in electric hybrids like its competitors. That changed when Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli hit CNBC this morning with the first images of the Dodge EV, which stands for electric vehicle. In the CNBC.com story, reporter Phil LeBeau details his drives in the sports car and an electric version of the Jeep Wrangler.

If the EV looks just like a Lotus Europa — a sports car not sold in the U.S. — that’s because that’s exactly what this is. Like Tesla, it seems Chrysler is teaming with Lotus Engineering for its electric vehicle, which has a similar spec sheet to the Tesla Roadster.

The Dodge EV’s range is 150-200 miles; its 0-60 time is under five seconds, according to Chrysler. And it will take up to eight hours to charge the Dodge EV on a standard 110-volt plug. 

We’re a bit perplexed that Chrysler hasn’t revealed more information to other media outlets. We’ll learn more about the car at 1 p.m. EST, according to the company’s media website.

Our initial impression? We’d be shocked if these cars hit the roads by 2010 as CNBC reports. We also don’t know how heavy vehicles like the Wrangler and Chrysler minivans would fair with electric motors that are meant to power extremely lightweight sportscars. Why Chrysler wouldn’t show off smaller vehicles like a Jeep Patriot or Dodge Caliber with these powertrains is perplexing. Someone’s got a lot of explaining to do.

Testing the Cars as Chrysler Goes Electric Testing the Cars as Chrysler Goes Electric (CNBC.com)

Comments

Thats one sweet looking car. Its like a sports car, but for less money. I like the racing strips on it.

Thats one sweet looking car. Its like a sports car, but for less money. I like the racing strips on it.

If Chrysler had even a modicum of confidence that they could deliver these by 2010 they wouldn't be debuting them on CNBC.

Ok, where is the obligatory "gasoline payoff" analysis? Hybrid owners have had to put up with this nonsense from just about every car scribbler around since the Prius came out. Unfair is unfair, time to get those pencils out and once again prove "you'll never get your money back."

Someone actually did that for a Lexus 600h! A $100,000 luxury car and some hack tried to calculate the gasoline vs hybrid payback.

Hybrid owners learned a long, long time ago that these faux analysis were utter nonsense. They often miscalculated the payback by not comparing both standard and optional features of both vehicles. Worse, they never addressed the payback of other options such as manual transmission, stereo or air conditioning.

As for the little electric car, I like it and would get one in a hear-beat.

Bob Wilson