The electric vehicles division over at Chrysler is being shut down.  The leaders at Fiat decided that ENVI will not be the name they use to electrify their vehicles.  This does not mean that Chrysler is giving up on EVs.  I would like to point out that in Chryslers 5 year plan announced on November 4th Chrysler would be taking the responsibility of all electrification in the Chrysler/Fiat line up.  So EVs will still be produced by Chrysler.

This also does not change the plans for the hybrid Ram next year.  Fiat/Chrysler has stated that they think EVs will account for 1-2% of their sales by 2014.  Not a big number, but a pretty realistic number.

While the hybrid Ram is still coming out next year, the Chrysler ENVI vehicle concepts are probably on shaky ground.  The minivan EV still makes the most sense in terms of up front costs (the minivan doesn’t need to be redesigned to electrify it) and market demand.  But the other two may never see the light of day.  The Jeep Wrangler is set to get a diesel engine (it’s about time too) brought over from Europe so they may decide that the diesel is good enough for now.

The Dodge Circuit EV is an electrified Lotus Elise – so a chunk of the cost in that car will end up going to Lotus.  I’m not sure that Fiat would like to be beholden to competitors for product.  They are already having issues with Diamler supplying parts for current Chrysler vehicles.