The Dodge ZEO, short for Zero Emissions Operation, is a concept car that Dodge showed on 14 January 2008 at the North American International Auto Show. It was built to demonstrate that electric powertrains could be quicker than petrol-powered muscle cars, but the automotive crisis and Chrysler’s Chapter 11 reorganisation meant it never reached production.
Dodge ZEO at a glance
| Shown | 14 January 2008, North American International Auto Show |
|---|---|
| Class | four-passenger sport wagon concept |
| Motor | single electric unit, 268 hp (200 kW) |
| Battery | lithium-ion |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive |
| 0-60 mph | 5.7 seconds |
| Range | 250 miles between charges |
| Doors | scissor doors front and rear |
| Hybrid option | series plug-in hybrid with 40 miles of electric range |
| Outcome | never produced |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Dodge ZEO. The material is short, so this page is brief.
History of the Dodge ZEO
The ZEO was a four-passenger sport wagon powered by a single 268 hp (200 kW) electric motor with a lithium-ion battery. It was rear-wheel drive and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with a claimed range of 250 miles between charges. Its most distinctive feature was its doors: conventional scissor doors at the front and rear-hinged scissor doors at the back.
A series plug-in hybrid version was also expected, with a 40-mile all-electric range. Dodge said it expected to outsource much of the production, had not selected partners and had no timetable for production. In the event the ZEO never saw production: the automotive industry crisis and Chrysler’s Chapter 11 reorganisation of the period led to the electric vehicle projects being scrapped.
Design and features
- Electric motor: a single 268 hp unit driving the rear wheels.
- 250-mile range: a claimed figure for the lithium-ion battery.
- Scissor doors: front doors and rear-hinged rear doors, all of the scissor type.
- Plug-in hybrid option: a series hybrid with 40 miles of electric range.
Dodge ZEO versions
- ZEO electric concept (2008): the battery-electric show car.
- ZEO plug-in hybrid: the planned series hybrid version.
The ZEO was part of the same electric programme as the Dodge EV, and it shared the concept-car role with the Dodge Razor. More Dodge models are in the Dodge collection.
Sources
- Dodge ZEO, English Wikipedia: concept, motor, range, doors, cancellation
