While three ENVI concepts were originally revealed last summer, Chrysler's saved this--the Jeep Patriot EV - for the 2009 Detroit auto show.
Like the Jeep Wrangler EV we saw in July, the Patriot is an extended-range electric vehicle. Built upon the front-wheel-drive Patriot, power comes primarily from a lithium-ion battery pack, which drives a 150 kW (200 hp) electric motor.
Provided it's fully charged, Chrysler says the Patriot EV operates solely on electricity for up to 40 miles. After that, a small gasoline motor--said to be good for only 60 hp--kicks in, generating electricity to recharge the battery and power the motor. According to Chrysler, this tag-team of sorts brings the Patriot's total range to a substantial 400 miles.
While it's hard to say exactly how the Patriot - let alone one driven primarily by electricity--fits into Jeep's off-road mantra, there is some promise in this concept vehicle: as it shares its platform with the Caliber, this shows Chrysler could feasibly develop an ER-EV compact car for the Dodge brand.
To read more about the 2010 Jeep Patriot EV, go to our 2009 Detroit auto show blogs coverage. All the latest blogs from the Editors of Automobile Magazine can be found HERE. We've got our whole staff wandering the floor at Cobo Hall bringing back live photos and more information about all the new debuts from Detroit.
For complete coverage of the 2009 Detroit auto show, click HERE.