The Consumer Guide to Electric Cars
by Dave Hall
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Electric Car Concepts
 Body Style: 4-door sedan Availability: After 2010 Cost: NA Claimed Top Speed: 100 mph Claimed 0-60: NA Passenger Capacity: 4 Claimed Range on Full Charge: 40 miles Claimed Charging Time: 3 hours (240 volt), 8 hours (120 volt) Battery Type: Lithium ion Regenerative Braking: Yes Horsepower: 150 horsepower (110 kw) Torque: 270 lb-ft (370 Nm) The Chevrolet Volt is not a hybrid, but rather an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) developed by General Motors. Not fully electric, Volt uses electric motors and batteries to move the car, and a gas-engine-driven generator produces supplemental electric power when the battery is depleted. The gasoline engine isn't used to directly drive the wheels. GM claims that 40 miles of electric-only driving is more than enough for most Americans' daily commutes. It can be charged via a standard 120-volt outlet or 240-volt household appliance outlet. Theoretically, stops at the gas station would be few and far between. Volt offers the long-distance flexibility of a conventional vehicle and eliminates the worry of being stranded by a dead battery. General Motors caused a stir when the concept version debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The production version looks different, but aerodynamic improvements promise a greater range. |
 Body Style: 4-door van Availability: Possibly 2010 Cost: NA Claimed Top Speed: 100+ mph Claimed 0-60: 8.7 seconds Passenger Capacity: 7 Claimed Range on Full Charge: 40 miles Claimed Charging Time: 4 hours (220 or 240 volt), 8 hours (110 or 120 volt) Battery Type: Lithium ion Regenerative Braking: Yes Horsepower: 268 horsepower (190 kW) Torque: 480 lb-ft (650 Nm) Chrysler promises Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (R-EEV) technology in a version of its popular Town & Country minivan. According to Chrysler, this "production-intent" prototype uses an electric motor and batteries to power the wheels. Like the Chevrolet Volt, the Town & Country R-EEV will travel a claimed 40 miles on batteries alone. Then, it uses a small internal combustion engine to generate more electricity when the batteries are depleted. To charge, it can be plugged into a standard 110- or 120-volt household outlet, or a 220- or 240-volt household appliance outlet. The Chrysler EV offers the long-distance flexibility of a conventional vehicle and eliminates the worry of being stranded by a dead battery. |
 Body Style: 2-door coupe Availability: Possibly 2010 Cost: NA Claimed Top Speed: 120+ mph Claimed 0-60: Less than 5 seconds Passenger Capacity: 2 Claimed Range on Full Charge: 150-200 miles Claimed Charging Time: 4 hours (220 or 240 volt), 8 hours (110 or 120 volt) Battery Type: Lithium ion Regenerative Braking: Yes Horsepower: 268 horsepower (200 kW) Torque: 480 lb-ft (650 Nm) What looks like a mid-engine sports car from a European brand is actually a Dodge electric-car concept. Who says driving green has to be slow? Chrysler claims a 0-60 time of less than five seconds and a quarter-mile time of 13 seconds. The concept uses a 200-kW electric motor that puts out 268 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. To charge, it can be plugged into a standard 110- or 120-volt household outlet, or a 220- or 240-volt household appliance outlet. |
 Body Style: 4-door SUV Availability: Possibly 2010 Cost: NA Claimed Top Speed: 90+ mph Claimed 0-60: 9 seconds Passenger Capacity: 5 Claimed Range on Full Charge: 40 miles Claimed Charging Time: 4 hours (220 or 240 volt), 8 hours (110 or 120 volt) Battery Type: Lithium ion Regenerative Braking: Yes Horsepower: 268 horsepower (200 kW) Torque: 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) Chrysler says "roam the planet while taking care of it" with their "production-intent" prototype Jeep EV. According to Chrysler, this electric Jeep uses the same setup as the Chrysler EV minivan: an electric motor with batteries to move the wheels and an internal-combustion engine to provide electricity after the first 40 miles. To charge, it can be plugged into a standard 110- or 120-volt household outlet, or a 220- or 240-volt household appliance outlet. The Jeep EV offers the long-distance flexibility of a conventional vehicle and eliminates the worry of being stranded by a dead battery. "We are also exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of ENVI's (representing the first four letters of environmental) advanced electric-drive technologies," said Lou Rhodes, Vice President of Advance Vehicle Engineering, and President of ENVI, Chrysler's in-house electric-drive vehicle organization. |
 Body Style: 2-door hatchback Availability: Leasing begins first quarter of 2009 Cost: $850 per month; One year lease Claimed Top Speed: 95 mph Claimed 0-62: 8.5 seconds Passenger Capacity: 2 Claimed Range on Full Charge: 150 miles Claimed Charging Time: 2.5 hours with provided charger Battery Type: Lithium ion Regenerative Braking: Yes Horsepower: 204 horsepower (150 kW) Torque: 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) This is a version of the MINI Cooper, modified to run solely on electric power. The lithium-ion battery can be charged from all standard outlets, but with the provided charger, charging time can be cut to 2.5 hours. To get the charger installed at their homes, customers must have "lockable garages or similar buildings," according to MINI. BMW claims that 500 examples of the MINI E will be available on a lease basis to customers in California, New York, and New Jersey. A similar program for European markets is under consideration. A one-year lease will be available, and can be extended at the customer's request. According to BMW, it will use data, customer feedback, and the experience from this program in the creation of future mass-production electric cars. According to Mini, production of the E "is scheduled for completion before the end of 2008." After leases are completed, the vehicles will be returned to BMW's engineering fleet for further testing. |
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