What is it? Chrysler presented prototypes of extended-range and pure-electric vehicles to demonstrate the technology applications developed by the in-house ENVI group (short for "environmental"). Simply put, the powertrains consist of an electric motor, lithium-ion battery, and a controller that manages energy flow. As demonstrated by the prototypes, the electric-drive system is being developed for front-, rear-, and four-wheel-drive applications.
What is new or notable: Chrysler claims this EV technology could provide 40 miles of pure-electric range in the Jeep Wrangler, with a small gasoline-fueled engine able to extend the range to 400 miles using just eight gallons of gas. The Wrangler has 268 horsepower. Engineers are exploring the use of electric motors for off-roading.
CR's take: It is clear that a plurality of solutions is on the near horizon, and electricity will play a key role.
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