Chrysler announced at the Detroit Auto Show that it would build and sell three electric vehicles, the first to be available by 2010. The Dodge Circuit EV is a two seater, rear wheel drive, electric sports car that is likely to be the first to the showroom.
"We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer," Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO told Autopia. "The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market."
The Circuit is based on the Lotus Europa S; a 200-kilowat electric motor provides 268 hp to propel the car to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and through the quarter mile in 13 seconds. The battery pack is mounted just ahead of the rear axle for the best weight distribution, putting a 600 lb lump in a car pretty much demands a "mid-engine" configuration.
With electric cars it's not exactly correct to talk about miles per gallon, and the EPA has no established standards to rate such cars, so direct comparisons are fuzzy, but the Circuit is likely to get over 100 mpg fuel efficiency. This will translate into approximately 150 range between recharging. Recharging can be done with either 110 household current, about nine hours to recharge, or with 220v in as little as 90 minutes.
Comparisons with the Tesla Roadster are inevitable, both use the Lotus foundation, both use litium ion batteries to get a similar range, and both are around 2600 lbs curb weight. Chrysler claims they will be able to sell the Circuit for "tens of thousands" less than the Tesla Roadster, and Tesla says once they get production ramped up, the price of the Roadster will come down.
With an electric motor, all the torque is available immediately so acceleration is Porsche or Ferrari quick; the Circuit's 268 hp is moving only 2600 lbs. This means the Circuit is great fun; good weight distribution and Lotus engineering make it an enthusiastic ride once the road turns twisty
Car and Driver had some time on the track with the Circuit and Dave Vanderwerp writes, "Whacking the power pedal once the car is up to speed, however, delivers a realistic rendition of a gut-contorting sucker punch. The Circuit pulls strongly well past 60 mph, but as triple digits approach, the lack of gears causes acceleration to taper off far more dramatically than in a traditional sports car." For video of his drive, look here.
Will you see the Dodge Circuit in the showroom next year? Will it sell? Can it compete with the Tesla Roadster?
"I’d say there’s a 75 percent chance they’ll hit that deadline," Mike Omotoso of J.D. Power & Associates tells Autopia. "They’ve got the Europa and they can learn from the mistakes Tesla’s made. It’s an aggressive timeline, but I think they can hit it."
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