Jeep unveils proto electric-drive Wrangler and Patriot
Chrysler's bush-basher brand is working on showing electric drive's suitability for off-road useJeep more than pulled its weight for Chrysler at this year's Detroit show with the unveiling of plug-in hybrid versions of its popular Wrangler and Patriot off-roaders.
Boffins at Chrysler's ENVI labs have implanted in each a modest petrol engine with an electric drive system -- the latter capable of providing standalone, all-electric power to push the vehicles for up to 64km of a total 640km combined-power range.
The petrol engine incorporates an electric generator to power up the electric drive system when it's needed.
Jeep points out that electric power's instant surge of torque and the potential to exercise precise control over individual wheels gives it huge potential for combined on- and off-road use.
At this point the prototypes are two-wheel drive only, but they're working on a four-wheel-drive system using individual in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the company's electric-drive technologies.
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