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Unveiled Live on CNBC, Chrysler Electric Cars

by Mike Ellis

September 24, 2008 10:03 AM

It felt like an auto show on the front lawn at the Chrysler headquarters on Tuesday, as Chrysler unveiled three electric-drive vehicles live on CNBC, the financial news network. You can see the clip by clicking this link - ELECTRIC.

These three electric-drive vehicles - the Dodge EV, the Jeep EV and the Chrysler EV - can travel on electric power only, without using gasoline and without emissions. One of the three will go on sale in North America in 2010, Chrysler Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli said on CNBC.

For more on the drive at Chrysler towards electric power vehicles, go to http://www.ChryslerGoesElectric.com and check out the blog post below.

Tags: The Suits , Powertrains , Hybrids , Innovation , Happenings , GEM , Going Green , Fuel Economy , ENVI , Alternative Fuels

Comments [29]

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29 Comments

jay Sep 23, 2008, 2:41 PM

Hi, What vehicle out of the three will be available in 2010?

Mike Ellis Sep 23, 2008, 3:12 PM

Well, you'll just have to wait and see. We like to keep some things as a surprise. Which one do you like?

Chad T Sep 23, 2008, 3:41 PM

I see that your battery packs for the concept cars range from 22kw-27kw. I know that the 53kw battery in the Tesla roadster costs $20K to replace. Do you have any idea how much your battery packs will cost?

dragon8warrior Sep 23, 2008, 3:41 PM

Excellent selection of vehicles. I like how unlike GM you showed off truely different electric vehicles for each of your brands. Excellent job!! Please come out with these vehicles as soon as possible. I'll be in line to buy one. Especially the Dodge EV and the Jeep EV. A Range extended EV Jeep especially in the future if you could get inhub motors for 4 wheel drive operation would be a really great application of the technology.

Mike Ellis Sep 23, 2008, 3:43 PM

With the questions about costs - great questions, but it's too soon for Chrysler to talk specifics on that. Keep in mind that costs should come down as volumes go up, and there's the lower cost of operation. Compare the high price to fill up a tank of gas with the cost of charging a battery pack.

Chad T Sep 23, 2008, 3:56 PM

"Compare the high price to fill up a tank of gas with the cost of charging a battery pack" Agreed, but replacing a battery pack at 100,000 miles (or dealing with a lower trade-in value if I don't replace the battery pack) is also a considerable expense.

jay Sep 24, 2008, 12:16 AM

Mike, I want that sports car but given that I have kids, I'd have to go with the Jeep. Chad, On battery packs, Tesla has a good bit of information about costs and how they will come down. For me, I just want to tell the Middle East and other countries to go pounds some rocks so I'm excited about an electric vehicle and I'm okay with paying a bit of a premium to help get that started. If our government would get its head out of the sand, it would help spur development in this and other areas.

jay Sep 24, 2008, 12:16 AM

Mike, One other question: I know right now you can't say what vehicle will be available. However, can you say when you will make the announcement as to what vehicle you will sell in 2010?

jay Sep 24, 2008, 12:16 AM

Mike, Another question: in 2010, whatever vehicle you make available will we have some serious real numbers or just a few thousand?

moparnorm Sep 24, 2008, 12:17 AM

Kudos to Lou! He spent an hour last week in the CAB Chat Room and never gave so much as a hint! A secret well keep and three products that will put customers into the showrooms. Now, if we could just get diesel engines added to the mix, Chrysler would have no peers in the fuel economy race.

EcoTony Sep 24, 2008, 8:21 AM

I will be in line for the Town & Country to replace our 2001 T&C ex. I like that we will be going from an ex to ev. Looking forward to the trade-in. Keep this up and you will be in the black before you know it.

cmarshal1003 Sep 24, 2008, 9:04 AM

Considering T. Boone Pickens plan to build wind generators and shift cars to CNG, I suggest that you offer a CNG option on the gas motors. This would also help in the event that we have a gas shortage like we had in the 70s. Watching the news about Iran and the possibility of oil disruption if Israel attacked Iran over their nuke development, this is a real possibility.

TheEmissary Sep 25, 2008, 8:00 AM

Chrysler just revealed the Dodge Zeo at the autoshow this past winter, what's the diffence between the Zeo and the Dodge EV? Do both vehicles share the same architect, why would the EV be more of a reality car than the Zeo which looks better?

GA Driver Sep 25, 2008, 9:45 AM

Looking forward to buying the Chrysler EV. My wife and I have wondered for years why none of the manufacturers were selling a hybrid or electric minivan in the US. Given Chrysler's history with the minivan, it is fitting that the company is leading with the EV. I read that Chrysler was going to put some test vehicles on the road before mass production -- how do I volunteer to drive one of the test vehicles?

roko2 Sep 25, 2008, 9:45 AM

Will these vehicles be available in Canada? I would like one asap. I think that Chrysler being early to the market with an all electric will give it a huge advantage. I wish you all the luck. Crysler deserves it for taking the risk.

jay k Sep 25, 2008, 9:45 AM

Hi, I want the minivan and I want it now!!! I loved my other 2 Grand Caravans and my wife and I have decided not to purchase any brand new vehicles until we can get an electric one. Used will have to do until then. Get me into that minivan and I will buy.

TheEmissary Sep 25, 2008, 9:45 AM

I'm really excited about this and there are so many question I want to ask, accessories like the air conditoner or heat, do these thing affect the mileage of the vehicles? How well do these vehicles stand up in Mich, cold weather? How often do the batteries have to be changed before a new set is needed?

Mike Ellis Sep 25, 2008, 9:51 AM

Great to see all the interest in the technology and the vehicles. We're working on getting more info from the engineers and officials working on the ENVI electric vehicles - so look for more blog posts in the future. Clearly, some of you are interested in these fleet vehicles. At this point, there are some questions on pricing and sourcing that they can't answer, but more information should be available in the future.

Fred Sep 25, 2008, 1:13 PM

MINIVAN MINIVAN MINIVAN! ! ! ! Why oh WHY has there been no 7 passenger hybird or EV as of yet? And dont tell me tahoe cause it is still crappy mpg... When can I get on waiting list? Cause we all know there will be one. You'd better start list as soon as type is announced.

Mike C Sep 25, 2008, 3:22 PM

My vote is the for the Jeep. I currently have a Cherokee and a Wrangler and absolutely love them both - except for the fuel mileage. I am currently on the waiting list for the Chevy Volt but would buy the Jeep EV in a heartbeat if the price was comparable, especially if it could get 40 miles on a single charge.

david Sep 30, 2008, 7:51 AM

Mini Van! Mini Van! Mini Van! Like a few of the others I am on the sidelines until I can buy and AMERICAN electric vehicle and a mini van would top that list followed by a four wheel drive like the Jeep. I am installing my solar panels on my roof as soon as Congrees will get out of their own way and extend the federal credit and remove the $2K cap. Bring on the EV!

Mike Ellis Oct 3, 2008, 9:25 AM

Looking for more information on the three EV vehicles? Check out www.ChryslerGoesElectric.com (or maybe you're already reading this there). There are more specs posted on the vehicles there, just click the vehicle names in the top right column. And you can be sure that we'll post more here on the EV vehicles in the future.

jeepnut Oct 6, 2008, 12:29 AM

why reinvent the wheel when the product that you currently produce is of such poor quality. try getting what you have to an acceptable standard first. and fire Robert Moorcroft

purviance Oct 8, 2008, 7:44 AM

Finally a car company that gets it right!. Take an existing design and covert them into ev electrics with a backup gas generator to extend your range. Hmm...... what other vehicle has been doing this like forever? Can you say a train engine. They 've always been powered by electric motors. The diesel motors are there to give electricty to the electric motors. I think the minivan is an excellent choice for the first vehicle. Everyone else is comming out with race cars. You can't put the dog, kids and equipment in those other vehicles. Anyone who says minivans aren't cool have never driven one. I remember going to Home Depot and buying plywood for a project. As I came out into the parking lot here was another customer who had a cool looking pickup but only a 5 foot bed. He had to lower the tail gate ,extend one of these ugly bar devices , and then put in the wood. I came out with my full size 4' x 8' sheet of plywood, slid it into my dodge minivan, closed the door and drove away. Minivans are just as cool for dads as they are for moms! Ford and GM can't get the minvan right so they stopped making them and now Chrysler is going to have an option for an EV minivan. You want to dominate the market? This is how you do it.! You got it right!

Frank - Las Vegas Oct 12, 2008, 8:45 AM

Has Chrysler considered a Volt looking (the concept) not that awful thing they're going into production with. GM had a good idea going, a true sataement car, now it looks like 90% of the cars on the road, and they are going to bring a comon looking 2008 car out in the 2011 model year? Please. Chrysler has some experience with cars that have straighter lines, like a smaller Chrysler 300, no that would be hot, and electric and it would SELL!! I truly hope you give that serious thought. Chrysler could own the electric market! Just don't get hung up on the 40 mile thing like GM did. They claimed that the concept Volt would only get 35 miles on electric. I think their whole thinking was flawed. I heard that wind tunnel tests were at 80 MPH. If you're only looking for 40 miles on electric, so that's 20 miles to work and 20 home. I don't think those 20 miles are going to be at 80 MPH. So don't blow it like GM did. Please.

daimlerchrysler buyer Oct 12, 2008, 4:43 PM

my vote is for the dodge ram powerfull and super duty let ev this one

Hal Who Dec 31, 2008, 11:27 AM

I live in a 40-unit condo in Illinois with a first-floor indoor garage. Each parking space has its own 120-volt electric outlet available, but the condo association pays for the electricity. If a few owners charge their batteries this way, they are getting their "fuel" at the expense of all the owners. The association could require a unit owner to install their own electric meter on their outlet, at the unit owner's cost, but I wonder if anybody would be willing to bear that cost? Any ideas on how a condo association could handle this issue?

katznbootz Apr 8, 2009, 8:33 PM

I would like to see the actual cost of a vehicle in the ads and the assessories. It would help in making up people's mind

baharuff Oct 6, 2009, 1:20 PM

I traded vehicles every 2 years, until I bought a 2000 Town & Country Limited - I couldn't find anything better. I've been waiting for the EV minivan; but, my daughter and I both bought low-mileage Chrysler Town & Country Tourings, this past spring. The next time we purchase, my other daughter will be purchasing one, also (she loves her Dodge minivan). How do I get on a list to test (100 Miles round trip to work every day) or purchase? I know there won't be anything else out there that will even come close to the comfort or innovative ideas that Chrysler offers, not to mention the power, storage, entertainment for the grandchildren, etc. I can't wait!!! How much longer?