2010 Jeep Wrangler EV Preview

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Jeep may be leaving the competition behind in its wake. But not due to its skilled trail driving sense, but its improvements in the realm of new technology. Not a typical Jeep trait. Wranglers in particular have always been something of a throwback, with live axles, mechanical locking differentials, and part-time four-wheel-drive systems. The edict has come down from the board room that Chrysler needs to take a leadership role in advanced technologies.

The company's recently announced electric vehicle effort is one of the lynchpins of its future success strategy, and during a brief tech backgrounder in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, we got a chance to hear more about and drive two of the three new Chrysler electric vehicle prototypes, both of which are full of promise.

The real challenge for Chrysler tech engineers is to build an electric vehicle Jeep guys won't dismiss. What they've come up with so far is a Wrangler Unlimited that uses an electric motor to drive the rear wheels, lithium-ion batteries to store the energy, a super-computer controller to manage the energy flow, and a small engine/generator needed to produce power when storage ratings in the batteries fall below 30%. 

Running on full electric power for up to 40 miles the Jeep EV then acts something like a hybrid, where the generator produces power directly to the electric motor as needed. Any extra energy during braking or off-throttle situations will be routed into the batteries. The gasoline tank (which can also hold E85 fuel) will allow the vehicle to travel, depending on the types of loads and environmental conditions, an extra 400 miles or so. In addition, because of the capabilities of the on-board dual-voltage generator, the Jeep EV can have a 15-amp 110/120-volt outlet as well as a household 30-amp 220/240-volt power outlet. 

Acceleration in the Jeep EV is strong and smooth, ramping up power progressively where the vehicle just keeps pulling up the speedometer at an almost unnerving pace. Because it's all electronic, the console-mounted stickshift is gone and the gear selection is done by pushbutton just below the nav screen. The nav screen itself allows for several different screens to help the driver monitor all sorts of vehicle parameters like battery temperature, power levels, strength, range, charge/discharge direction, and more.

From what we could tell during our drive, the added weight underneath the vehicle helps to take away some of the Wrangler's usual "tippy" feel when cornering at higher speeds. Of course, all our driving was on pavement, but the Jeep guys told us they know this vehicle has to be able to do everything people expect a Jeep to do if it's going to be a success. In fact, we've been hearing that a pair of wheel-mounted electric motors could work on a future model to make the SUV more trail capable, but the computer power needed to make the front and rear motors sync is prohibitive. Our guess is that it's still a few years out at best, but opens up all sorts of ecofriendly 4x4 possibilities Jeep is hoping will catch on. The key will be to make them work like a typical 4x4. In the 2WD vehicle we drove, there was nothing that made the vehicle look or act compromised, with the exception of noise and absence of a transmission. Additionally, under the hood was tons of room to store various gear and tools, or mount a winch.

One of the three vehicles it has been demoing (the EV sports car, a version of the Town & Country minivan, and the Wrangler) will be on sale as a 2010 model by late next year. Which one? It would make the most sense and be an easier fit in the Town & Country as they are priced better to deal with the added technology, the platform has built-in under floor storage capacity for the batteries, and it's just about the only segment making money right now. You can expect more on this coming in the near future. And we'll see if we can get a few more tidbits from the Chrysler EV development team at the L.A. auto show.

ENVI Technology

Chrysler ENVI is the new electric vehicle platform with electric-vehicle technology from Chrysler LLC.  ENVI's electric-vehicle technology enables a new standard of quiet, smooth and efficient operation.

What that means for the consumer is uncompromising performance, agility, space and design, instantaneous acceleration and responsiveness, continuing to drive the way you drive today, becoming environmentally responsible, and the ability to own one of these electric vehicles as soon as 2010 with at least three more models available by 2013.

ENVI's all-electric EVs provide a 150- to 200-mile driving range on zero gasoline and no tailpipe emissions. Its' Range-extended Electric Vehicles can travel 40 miles on battery power alone. The range extender is a small internal combustion engine and integrated generator that produces electricity that extends the range to 400 miles, using very little gasoline. Overnight charging is standard with a 110-volt household outlet with charging time cut in half with 220-volt household appliance power outlet. To see just how the Wrangler EV drives, read a 'First Drive' road test by Truck Trend.

There will be plenty of debate about making a Jeep as rugged and trail-fixable as a conventional Jeep. Will the average Jeep buyer be interested? We're not so sure, but no doubt there will be early adopters that will get tons of exposure, and maybe, over time, as the power trains prove themselves safe, watertight, and mud-proof, there may be a place for this kind of technology for the casual bad-weather Jeep guy. Read about the unveiling of the Wrangler EV at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.