Struggling car maker Chrysler has unveiled a line of electric cars scheduled to start shipping at the end of 2010. The surprise announcement brings Chrysler in direct competition with General Motors, which last week showed off the Chevy Volt, an extended-range electric car also due in late 2010.
Chrysler's plans call for a total of four electric cars, with two using the same concept as the Volt and two further all-electric cars.
Top execs at Chrysler showed off an extended-range electric Jeep Wrangler (pictured above right) and a mini-van (above left) to CNBC on Tuesday.
As with the Volt, lithium-ion batteries will power the car for the first 40 miles and a small, one-litre, internal combustion engine will charge the battery for longer rides. A consumer will be able to charge the batteries in eight hours from a US 110-volt outlet or four hours from a 220-volt outlet.
"The range is about 400 miles on eight or nine gallons of gas," Chrysler Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda told CNBC.
Chrysler also unveiled a prototype of an all-electric sports car, called the Dodge EV (pictured below), which can go 150 or 200 miles on a charge and accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds.
Finally, CEO Bob Nardelli said that Chrysler intends to make an all-electric city car based on its Peapod (below), a small electric car that runs on batteries only.
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that Chrysler will partner with battery maker A123 Systems. GM may choose A123 Systems' batteries for the Volt.
On Tuesday, Chrysler released technical specifications for all of the four cars it unveiled.
The extended-range electric Jeep Wrangler
A prototype of the Dodge EV, an all-electric sports car
The Peapod, the basis for a planned all-electric city car
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