Results tagged “Chrysler EV” from Electric Vehicle Authority

The plugin hybrid Fisker Karma is turning heads worldwide with it's Q-drive technology, basically a small gas engine that turns a generator which charges Lithium Ion batteries (like those in the Tesla and other high end EV sports cars). The car is due out in 2009 but has sold out and is now taking reserve orders for 2010 models. In many ways this car resembles the Chevy Volt (also due out around 2010) having a driving range emission free for up to 50 miles before the generator kicks in. Chrysler has announced a minivan and Jeep that follow suit with the series hybrid technology designed to extend driving range with a gas motor while relying primarily on batteries short range.

While it's easy to geek out on the technical specs of these cars, the Fisker Carma is turning heads for other reasons as well. Those of us who enjoy anime may experience a dose of dejavu when they see the Fiskar sports car for the first time. That's because it's grille closely resembles Totoro, the animated character from Hayao Miyazaki's classic movie My Neighbor Totoro. See for yourself, we've spliced a few images together below to get the point across... If you've never seen a Miyazaki film get out there and rent or buy one now! Fun for all ages ;)

After announcing the bad news first, a $400 million loss for the year so far, Chrysler followed up with some very surprising good news: three new electric vehicles. And unlike GM, whose Chevy Volt is an uninspiring sedan that appears to have been traced from a silhouette of the Toyota Prius (despite the very exciting concept version the General teased us with), Chrysler has released the iconic Jeep Wrangler and the immensely popular Chrysler Town & Country minivan as range-extended electric vehicles. On top of that, they also released a pure electric convertible built on the Lotus Europa platform that will compete directly with the Tesla Roadster.

It turns out Chrysler has been sandbagging us all along, and has been working on electric vehicles since January 2007. They even went so far as to bring three electric vehicle mockups to the Detroit auto show in January "to show what electric vehicles could look like" and also to appear way behind GM in the electric vehicle race. Leading up to announcements from GM and Chrysler Tesla and Phoenix have dominated the consumer EV arena while hobbyists have continued converting existing cars with aftermarket EV components.