Chrysler says the electric Jeep EV prototype is a "glimpse into the future of a 'Go Anywhere, Do Anything' vehicle with renowned Jeep Wrangler ability."
Based on the 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the Jeep EV is not a pure EV; it's a "range-extended electric vehicle" because it combines an electric motor with a small gasoline engine and an integrated electric generator to produce additional energy when needed.
Powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, the Jeep EV's electric motor makes 268 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Jeep says that with 8 gal. of gasoline onboard, the EV has a range of 400 miles, including 40 miles in which the Jeep is running in full-electric, zero-emissions mode. When running in gasoline mode, the Jeep EV emits 50 percent less C02 than is typical.
Performance claims include 0–60 mph in 9.0 sec and the quarter mile in 16.5 sec, with a top speed of over 90 mph.
The 5-passenger Jeep EV features an onboard dual-voltage charger, and can be plugged into any 110/120-volt standard household power outlet, as well as a 220/240-volt household appliance outlet.
The Jeep EV was developed by ENVI ("ENVI" represents the first four letters of "environmental"), Chrysler's in-house group formed a year ago to focus on electric production vehicles. ENVI is currently studying 4-wheel drive with in-wheel electric motors, as being able to control the drive of each wheel independently would be perfectly suited to the off-road, rock-crawling nature of the Jeep Wrangler.