Jeep Wrangler EV Concept -  A Green Off-Road Machine

ENVI represents the first four letters of 'environment', and this is Chrsyler LLC's in-house organization that was formed to focus on electric-drive production vehicles and related advanced technologies. Although the electric vehicle development has been integrated back into the main Chrysler development program, rather than the ENVI division, the automaker continues to work towards producing an electric vehicle. With the Wrangler EV you get complete range-extended electric status and the possibility of monster rock-crawling capabilities.

With approximately eight gallons of gasoline, the Jeep EV has a range of 400 miles, including 40 miles of zero fuel-consumption, zero-emissions, all-electric operation. The Jeep Wrangler EV packs a punch with strong and smooth acceleration, ramping up power progressively.  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?

Jeep Wrangler EV Drive

Besides the differences in the regular and EV Wrangler power trains, there's the center of gravity. The EV's is significantly lower; the battery pack is axle height. During driving, the added weight underneath the vehicle helps to take away some of the Wrangler's usual "tippy" feel when cornering at higher speeds.  Acceleration in the Jeep Wrangler EV is strong and smooth, ramping up power progressively where the vehicle just keeps pulling up the speedometer at an almost unnerving pace. 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.

 Trail Ability for the Electric Wrangler

For Jeep to put out a 'green' Wrangler seems perfect, as many 'Jeepers' already live by the 'tread lightly' philosophy, which is to minimize impact on the environment while off-roading. The new Jeep EV may not be the offroad king that its gas siblings are, but over time Jeep may figure out how to make it more capable.  The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor and the ability to precisely control each wheel independently results in off-road capability ideally suited for the Jeep brand, without compromising on-road driving capability.

Wrangler EV Power

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. The components of ENVI vehicles include an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor and a controller that manages energy flow. The Range-extended Electric Vehicle combines the electric-drive components of the Electric Vehicle with a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today's gasoline-powered vehicles - with little compromises in performance. The 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor generates 400 N-m (295 lb.-ft.) of torque.

Jeep Wrangler EV Design

The electric version of the Wrangler looks very similar to a conventional four door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.  The prototypes shown so far have a suitable special green paint, with large 'EV' markings on the side.  Inside, the navigation 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. Under the hood is tons of room to store various gear and tools, or mount a winch.

Summary

While other SUVs may be using fuel saving technologies such as cylinder shutoff systems, Jeep will be way ahead of the pack with the development of the Jeep Wrangler EV.  Chrysler had hoped to release its ENVI vehicle in the near future, so the Jeep Wrangler EV may be on the road within the next few years. Chrysler and General Electric have actually jointly pursued a project with the United States Department of Energy to explore advanced energy-storage technology. In Chrysler's words, they 'have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, advanced electric vehicles'.  The real challenge, though, is for Chrysler tech engineers to build an electric vehicle Jeep enthusiasts won't pass over.  Hopefully over time the electric power trains will prove themselves safe, watertight, and mud-proof, there may be a place for this kind of technology for the casual bad-weather Jeep folks. For more information, read another overview of the Wrangler EV.