Officials with Chrysler say they will debut models of electric cars in 2010.
This story from CNN.com says the company is hoping to catch up with GM and… catch some of the buzz surrounding the new Chevy Volt:
The company showed reporters three electric prototypes: a Dodge sports car, a Jeep Wrangler and a Chrysler minivan. Chrysler’s product development chief, Frank Klegon, said the automaker hasn’t decided which one it will roll out first.
The Dodge sports car is completely electric and based on Lotus Europa underpinnings, but the Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler minivan models will be extended-range vehicles similar to the Volt, which GM has said will go on sale in November 2010.
Like the Volt, the Wrangler and minivan plug into a standard wall outlet and can go 40 miles (65 kilometers) on battery power alone, but then a small gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the batteries. Chrysler said its vehicles will be able to travel up to 400 miles (640 kilometers) on 8 gallons (30 liters) of gas.
Chrysler officials haven’t revealed how much the new vehicles will cost, but experts say it will probably be more than conventional vehicles.