The Dodge EV concept car, also called the Dodge Circuit EV sports car, is a two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive all-electric sports car that Dodge showed at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. It was built on a Lotus Europa S and combined a lithium-ion battery pack with an electric motor of 200 kW.
Dodge EV at a glance
| Shown | 2009 North American International Auto Show |
|---|---|
| Class | two-seat electric sports car |
| Base car | Lotus Europa S |
| Motor | 200 kW (270 hp) |
| Torque | 480 lb-ft |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive |
| Battery | lithium-ion |
| Claimed range | 150-200 miles |
| Recharge | 8 hours at 120 V, 4 hours at 240 V |
| Planned launch | United States by 2010 |
| Outcome | project cancelled in 2009 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Dodge EV concept.
History of the Dodge EV
Dodge presented the EV as a working prototype and announced plans to bring it to the United States market by 2010. The car was based on the Lotus Europa S, the same chassis used by the Tesla Roadster, and paired a lithium-ion battery pack with a 200 kW (270 hp) electric motor producing 480 lb-ft of torque. Dodge claimed a driving range of 150 to 200 miles, approaching the range and performance of the all-electric Tesla Roadster.
According to Dodge, the car could be recharged in eight hours from a standard 120-volt outlet, or in four hours from a 240-volt outlet of the kind used for electric ovens and dryers. The concept was part of Chrysler’s ENVI electric vehicle programme, which was intended to produce a family of electric and range-extended models.
The project did not survive. In May 2009 Autocar reported that it had been cancelled, and in November 2009 Fiat, which had taken control of Chrysler, disbanded the ENVI electric car division and dropped its models from future product plans. The Dodge EV therefore remained a show car, and Dodge’s next electric effort came much later with the Charger Daytona range.
Design and features
- Lotus base: the same chassis as the Tesla Roadster, with a Europa S body.
- 200 kW motor: 270 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels.
- Practical charging: a full charge in eight hours from a domestic 120 V socket.
- ENVI programme: part of Chrysler’s short-lived electric vehicle plan.
Dodge EV versions
- Dodge EV concept (2009): the show car presented in Detroit.
- Dodge Circuit EV: the alternative name used for the same car.
The EV was Dodge’s electric answer to cars like the Dodge Viper in spirit, and it belonged to the same wave of concept cars as the Dodge ZEO. More Dodge models are in the Dodge collection.
Sources
- Dodge EV, English Wikipedia: specification, range, charging, cancellation
