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

[electricman]

The 'Stinky Smell' being spoken of from batteries - is from Flooded Lead Acid Batteries at Charging, or possibly - at high discharging currents, not from NiMH, LiFePO4, or LiPo Batteries (or likely - even from any AGM Lead Battery)

Don't foreget - the Hummer is less efficient than a 53' Tractor-Trailor rig loaded with 40 ton on board, and - if the Power Grid goes Down (Remember the Big East-Coast Blackout - http://www.aircraft-computational.com/are/index.html) you can't pump gas in 4 minutes, or 40 minutes, or even buy groceries at the highly electric dependant Super Market - But - it there were 10,000 Local EV's arount with 20 - 50 kWh of electricity in their 'tanks' they could power a house, store, or even a gas station for a period of time!

[Matt]

I love all the negative remarks from the naysayers. I can bet on who you voted for too... LOL

I can also bet the first time you saw a computer or the internet, you had the same kinds of responses.

I say all the naysayers should have their computers and cell phones taken away from them, so we don't have to listen to all their negativity.

Get over it... change is happening. Either come along for the ride, or move to some part of the world where they still do things like they did 2,000 years ago.

[Tom]

This is just the beginning. No point in arguing the fact that we'll all be driving electric vehicles soon.

[Molly Parman]

Anyone know if there are any of the Ford electric cars
that were test driven in California in 1994 (of there abouts?)

[Peter Oppewall]

Electric Vehicles are ready for prime time, we just need to invest in building them, and invest in renewable electric energy production. California's decision to spend 1 billion dollars on electric vehicle plug-in infrastructure should give some indication of the direction things are headed in. There are many more options in electric drive vehicles coming available now, sites like http://EVtransPortal.com have direct links to the manufacturers and distributors globally.

[Dave WIlliamson]

Funny how all the foreigners and teens are blogging away on this car.

Its American, I can't wait for the big 3 to show off some of the talent they obviously have. As it took how long to show this off?

The trade deficit speaks volumes about the trouble America is currently having. But its ok it won't take long for the largest market in the world to catch up. It never does.

Count me in Dodge when you put the EV out..
Keep America working "buy American".

For the haters out there, give it a rest.

[dan]

Are all you "greenys" completely insane? No really...you scream for electric cars. Do you have any idea where 50% of our current power comes from??? COAL. Never mind the fact that the power grid in its present form is close to its limits. If you add in everyone charging there cars forget it. We do NOT have the power generation capability to support this!!!!!!!!!!! You morons should be focusing on renewable power FIRST. Like solar....but I don't see the gov dumping any trillions into something that truly works, only crappy temporary "stimulus" bullcrap!

Dan Neil here: Ordinarily, I'd let this rant go unopposed, but it must be pointed out that the Electric Power Research Institute -- that's the electric industry's research operation -- and other agencies estimate that we could charge between 80 and 100 million electric cars at night, during off peak hours, without any significant upgrades to the national power grid or generation. Right now we are wasting vast amounts of electricity at night because it is prohibitively expensive to power generators down. In other words, lots of excess capacity.

Even half that number of electric cars would more than zero out American importation of Middle East oil.

Also, part of the electric car initiative is to make the grid smarter, more flexible and more distributed (with renewable sources) to avoid line losses. Electric vehicles batteries may one day provide a collective buffer battery for intermittent renewable sources of electricity, such as wind and solar. EV's and grid modernization, in other words, go hand in hand. Indeed, the stimulus package "Sixpack Dan" is deriding includes billions for grid modernization, which will pay benefits for decades to come.

Finally, with the mention of coal: It's a fact, and an easily found one, at that, that an EV charged from even the dirtiest coal-fired plant is more carbon efficient on a per-mile basis than a gas-powered car. Meanwhile, the percentage of coal-generated electricity in the US is 45 percent and dropping fast.

A simpler reposte might have been: Sixpack Dan has no idea what he's talking about.