Dodge EV punks Challenger in a little unsanctioned drag racing

Lou Rhodes, straight-talking guru of electric vehicles for Chrysler, brought the company's three phase-one EV prototypes to the Rose Bowl on Friday for a little PR face time. Much of what is known about these vehicles is already known. They are retrofitted production cars, a Jeep Wrangler four-door and a Chrysler Town & Country minivan — both range-extended EVs with small gas generators to charge the batteries and drive the electric motors — and a fully electric version of the Lotus Europa, spelled "Dodge EV" (right).

Rhodes said Chrysler will put 100 EV and range-extended prototypes on the road next year for engineering and consumer analysis. The thinking is that the company will use prismatic lithium-ion battery packs of 1.1 kWh capacity, arrayed in larger battery packs that could be shaped to fit in a variety of vehicles. Rhodes said Chrysler is working with "all the battery suppliers," and is nowhere near settling on a supplier or chemistry. The range-extended EVs use a two-cylinder, 1-liter gas generator to charge the batteries.

Meanwhile, Chrysler and General Electric are working on a Department of Energy program for advanced energy-storage systems. One promising direction: dual-battery technology, with one set optimized for peak power delivery — as required during acceleration — and another set optimized for energy storage to improve range. For more on Chrysler's EV program, go here.

As for Chrysler's current financial woes, Rhodes said: "There has always been product that has turned Chrysler around in the past. We believe this is some of the product that will do it for the company in the future."

And with the messy business of business out of the way, it was time for some illicit fun. Rhodes jumped into the Dodge EV — powered by a 268-hp electric motor and a 26 kWh Li-ion battery — and lined it up against a Dodge Challenger 6.1 Hemi that was oh-so-conveniently nearby. An impromptu drag strip was arranged in the Rose Bowl parking lot and Rhodes dropped the hammer. Watch what happened.

You'll note that, on the first run, the 480 pound-feet of electric torque instantaneously available to the Dodge EV leaves the Challenger for dead at the line, and the electric car hums to victory at the 800-foot line. On the second pass, the Challenger driver gets a better hole shot but seems to let up at the finish.

No matter the car, no matter the company, no matter the technology, it's never a good idea to show up the boss.

—Dan Neil

Comments

[Jason J McCabe]

While everybody loves to see an electric win, the "Challenger" is an archaic and grotesque, overweight beast. A sports car? Hardly. A throwback? Yes. Chrysler is making strides in the right direction with this line of, mind you proposed, electrics but they if anyone have a LOT of making up to do. I'm still yawing while I wait for something that will make an actual impact in real world market. I just hope it happens in before Chrysler goes out of business.

[Jack Jones]

Wow. Their totally impractical prototype beat their own gas sucking relic. Embarrassing.

[Lee Lou]

WT..? Dodge is claiming a victory by beating their own car with a Lotus with an engine off the shelf? You're kidding me right? Is this the American out manufactures round about way of saying "that's all we've got, sorry."?

[Al]

With the EV at half the weigh, who would be surprised. Then we know that electric motor's do have instant torque, but they have a problem of generating a lot of heat. Some day we will all be driving electric vehicles. I hope for a break through in battery storage. That is the only thing holding this technology back.

[Stan]

they keep the battery under the back seat where you put your children and we know all batteries give of a bad smell that can only be harmful for your children as will as all people in the car

[R Scott]

And we want to give how many billions of dollars of tax-payer money to these folks?

[JB]

"Much of what is known about these vehicles is already known." Pardon? Please think twice before publishing such duds.

[Ross C.]

Electrics whip up on gas cars at the track. Tesla and now Dodge/Lotus prove it. Turning autos into carnival rides has a clientele. If we need to become more efficient and less polluting, though, more of the same old same old won't be cutting it again anytime soon. Electric cars can't be made by just dropping a motor and batteries into a gas body. Reality means that we need aerodynamic autos that move most efficiently, not drag racers.

[Mark Milligan]

I think a lot of people are missing the point trying to be made. It looks to me that Chrysler management is trying to tell us they're not going down without a fight. Of course this EV isn't ready for production, and the Challenger is a car designed to bring us into the showroom-of course it's not practical. Don't give up guys, some of us would love to drive fast in a safe alternative fuel vehicle made in America.

[doug wilson]

There's a hint of a problem buried in the story's numbers -
if my math is correct the EV's 268hp motor can drain the car's 26kWh battery DEAD in 7.8 minutes. I guess it was fun while it lasted.

[Brandon Kruger]

Are you really that near sighted doug? Do you really expect the motor to constantly be pulling 268hp???? That's a peak rating. In reality, city driving would consume about 200-350wh/mile, giving you 75-130 mile range, obviously more than "7.8 minutes". To actually get that motor to constantly draw that amount of power youd have to be towing a large trailer at 80mph with a lead foot, which would be ridiculous to take on with an electric.

[stopcrazypp]

@doug

By your same logic:
200-350wh/mile required to drive in the city.
13mpg city and 19 gallon tank in the challenger.
200-350wh/mile * 13mpg * 19gal = 49.4-86.5kWh of energy in Challenger's tank.

If the Challenger is always continuous outputting 420hp=317kW, the amount of time it will burn through the gas is 9.4 minutes - 16.4 minutes.

I'm sure you heard this statement thrown around if you are into cars: if you are on the Bugatti Veyron at top speed, it's massive 26.4 gallon tank will empty in 12 minutes & 43 seconds. But in real life this kind of situation usually won't occur.

[Nick]

Even though I am convinced when it comes to electric cars having driven a few, you can't expect a heavy 6.1L to be a sprinter. The behemoth engines peak at a certain speed and are meant to give "their best" already rolling and accelerating. The lighter EV puts out it's maximum torque and horsepower from standstill, the controller does the rest.

However, Lee Lou, I wonder where you got that: "Then we know that electric motor's do have instant torque, but they have a problem of generating a lot of heat." I recently drove AC Propulsion's eBox and Hybrid Technologies EV Mini and the engine never got over 80F early September in the middle of LA traffic.

It's ready, they are here, most people are just not ready. It's all about education. ;)

[ww]

Wait'll they have to call the hazmet teams to clean up the broken battery messes after freeway accidents. Or the battery banks catch fire in the garage. The insurance companies will love figuring all the ways to deny the claims.

[vfx]

An electric motor gets hot? Are you kidding me? Not only do they stay about the same as the motor in your dishwasher or washing machine but even if it heat were a problem (which it's not) think about that engine in your car that is so inefficient that it wastes 40 percent of it's gasoline energy into heat. They have radiators, tubes and water running throughout the whole internal combustion mess to keep it cool. No reason that could not be done with another drive system.

And Stan, the lithium batteries they use in these cars are the same ones in your laptop, cellphone, camera, Ipod, power tools, etc. None of them smell. They are non-toxic, long lasting and recyclable. You are thinking about 30 years ago.

[vfx]

WW,

More lithium education, It's edible. Far from toxic waste. As for fire, I know that gasoline eruptions from cars or tanker trucks are rare and minimal when they take down overpasses in San Francisco. The new lithium battery chemistries are not a problem but they are still encased in a metal box with sensors to limit spread just in case.

[P J Evans]

"they keep the battery under the back seat where you put your children and we know all batteries give of a bad smell that can only be harmful for your children as will as all people in the car"

WTF? That's only true of *leaking* batteries. If the batteries are leaking, you have far bigger problems than a 'bad smell'.

[John]

I'll take the Challenger..... there's nothing like a V8 rumble.

[Fearless]

ww,

You are slightly myopic. Gasoline already causes a certain number of deaths each year due to its cancer causing properties which afflict everyone who fuels a car, not just in the aftermaths of accidents.

Also, the massive amount of potential energy in a gas tank has caused many a death in accidents. I find it hard to believe a battery is any more dangerous in the aftermath of an accident than gasoline.

Also, when compared to diesel, the comparison is ridiculous. Diesel spills are already treated as hazardous materials.

The fact that batteries are only dangerous when broken, and not on a constant basis such as gasoline gives your argument little merit.

Like someone already said, it's about education.

--Fearless

[Fearless]

Al,

The Challenger does 0-60 in under 4.5 seconds and the 1/4 mile in less than 13 seconds. Those are Super Car numbers. If the EV can beat any of those numbers, then the whole argument about having to sacrifice performance in order to drive electric is now moot.

That's almost a 12 second car that this EV just beat.

I am impressed. Driving that EV would feel like a roller coaster ride. Even more impressive that it will plant you in your seat without making any noise.

Having driven EV's, I can tell you that it is really fun and unnerving because of the lack of noise.

Check your facts before you discount the evidence off-hand.

--Fearless

[Lewis Salem]

And I can buy this Dodge EV where?

[Steve-o]

Electric cars are useless jokes. Let me know when I can drive one 400 miles at 70mph and then fill it up anywhere I please in 4 minutes and take off again. Until then, keep them where they belong, in your dreams.

[marvingalaxy]

Thank goodness these wise people have saved us from electric cars!

"Let me know when I can drive one 400 miles at 70mph"

Ever since I moved to Jupiter I must not forget how important is the ability to drive 1000 miles a day.

"Wait'll they have to call the hazmet teams to clean up the broken battery messes after freeway accidents. Or the battery banks catch fire in the garage."

Wow! I could have died if I got an electric car. Thank goodness gasoline is neither toxic or flammable! I'll stick to gasoline and be safe and sound.

"we know all batteries give of a bad smell that can only be harmful for your children"

That smell is the Pure Evil that they dig up from Hades to make batteries. I could be wrong and Lithium, Iron, and Phospate could instead be dietary minerals, but to be safe I'm calling all you EV people EVIL! Think of the children!

[Evan Kalambakas]

...and don't forget "and then fill it up anywhere I please in 4 minutes and take off again" ...My God! Where will we ever find electricity?! ...Certainly not EVERYWHERE!! 4minutes? ...rarely. I don't know about you, but I think I can wait 10 mins. to fill my electric tank, especially considering that it would cost about $2.83. The latest lithium phosphate technology can be rapid-charged to 90% in very little time with the appropriate charger. I would buy that Dodge/Lotus EV tommorro even at this stage of development, if it were available at a reasonable price. The time has come, many of us are ready NOW. I for one will not buy another new gas vehicle, even if I have to wait 'till the Chevy Volt arrives in 2011. GM, Chrysler, Ford, It don't matter-Good ol' American Technology-Bring it on!! I'm tired of waiting! -EvK

[CG]

ALL OF YOU WHO THINKS BATTERY POWER IS A WASTE, AND THAT CHRYSLER IS NOT DOING WHAT IS IS NEEDED, JUST TRY AND PUT TOGETHER AND PIECE OF FURNITURE YOU BUY FROM THE STORE, MOST LIKLY CANT FIGURE IT OUT WITH INSTRUCTION, LET ALONE DESIGN AND ENGINEER A VECH WITH NEW NEW TECHNOLOGY. ALSO THIS IS FUTURE DESIGN UNSURE OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF ARE COMPANIES, I SAY OUR COMPANIES BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICANS AND THESE ARE AMERICAN COMPANIES........