Dodge Zeo Concept car

Next Tuesday Chrysler has announced that it will unveil an extended range electric car.  The car will reportedly get 40 miles out of a battery charge with a small gas engine to power an electric generator to recharge the batteries (sound familiar?).

Details on when the vehicle will be launched, and it’s future in general are still uncertain.  While GM has narrowed the date for the Volt to November of 2010 (as a 2011 model), Chrysler hasn’t even announced who the battery supplier will be.  Many things are still up in the air surrounding Chrysler’s endeavor into the market.

Chrylser is hoping that it’s dealers will get a small jolt of energy from the announcement.  It also hopes this car can help turn around it’s public image much like GM does.

Source: WSJ

I’d say that this is joint technology with GM.  Chrysler doesn’t have to worry about who will supply the batteries since GM will already have made that decision.  Chrysler and GM have also worked jointly on the two mode hybrid SUVs, the cylinder deactivation system present in their V8 engines, and the new phoenix V6 engine with the same cylinder deactivation.  It’s not much of a stretch to hear that Chrysler is also going to be selling an electric car.