REPORT: Chrysler, Fiat partnering on electric car
by Jonathon Ramsey on Oct 12th 2009 at 5:58PM 
Dodge Circuit EV – Click above for high-res image gallery
In a little more than three weeks, Sergio Marchionne will reveal his 5-year plan for Chrysler. According to information revealed by a Fiat exec and Chrysler board member Alfredo Altavilla last week, at least one electric car will be part of it. While visiting a gearbox factory in Italy, Altavilla confirmed that the presumed-dead electric car program is in progress and being worked on by Chrysler and Fiat. He gave no further comment on the matter.
Chrysler, through its ENVI in-house electric propulsion division, currently has four electric vehicles: the Dodge Circuit EV (shown), Jeep Patriot EV, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV, and Chrysler Town & Country EV. The ENVI site claims that you'll be able to own at least one electric model by 2010, and there will be "at least three more models available by 2013." Those claims could be outdated, however; we'll have to wait until November 4 to get clarity on the future. But if there's an electric Fiat 500 in there, well, let's just say we won't be disappointed...
Gallery: Dodge Circuit EV
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
James 6:07PM (10/12/2009)
"But if there's an electric Fiat 500 in there, well, let's just say we won't be disappointed..."
Yeah, a rebadge would probably be a...Chrysler Jolt.
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Sea Urchin 6:13PM (10/12/2009)
This is such a silly statement, 500 probably already gets 45 MPG, there's zero need to electrify it. This is EXACTLY why autonuts should never run car companies.
J 9:26PM (10/12/2009)
Sea urchin, that is one of the dumbest things I have ever read.
Do you think that electric cars cannot be more efficient than a car getting 45 miles per gallon?
Even after automakers improve the fuel efficiency of their internal combustion engines, better is still better.
Think about that.
Improving the efficiency of your product is still good, even if it is already more efficient than your old versions used to be.
daleam 3:49AM (10/13/2009)
I have seen at least one Fiat 500 tooling around the Auburn Hills/Bloomfield Hills area with some cables hanging out of it's ass end and around the sides. I assume it's collecting road data but you never know. I didn't hear the engine but my windows were closed so I can't really say.
Sea Urchin 8:56AM (10/13/2009)
@ J
500 probably will sell for 25K maximum, electrifying it will make it cost 35K, who will buy this car for 35K?
For now electrification is for larger more expensive cars.
3n1gma 6:15PM (10/12/2009)
The Dodge Circuit is a cool looking car. Let's see if they can top the Telsa's mileage (244 miles per charge) and sell it for a reasonable price. (under $40,000 anyone?)
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Snowdog 7:14PM (10/12/2009)
Considering it is base on a Lotus Europa Chassis (~$50K) and used more expensive type of battery than a Tesla and Third party EV guts.
There is no way this could possibly be under $80K.
knightuc1992 6:23PM (10/12/2009)
Dodge Circuit... Chevy Volt ... Talk about cliches'
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cRazYee 6:37PM (10/12/2009)
damn this looks like Lotus Europa
what a cheap clone
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TheCheat 7:01PM (10/12/2009)
That's 'cause it pretty much is. It's basically a Europa with electric bits, then Dodge decided it needed the corporate crosshair in the grille.
veilofmaya2006 6:34PM (10/12/2009)
Has a lot of similarities visually to a lotus elise/exige. I don't think in a good way either.
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tump 11:00PM (10/12/2009)
Lotus Europa http://www.grouplotus.com/cars/showroom.html#/europa/:
veilofmaya2006 11:51PM (10/12/2009)
Your right! It is the Europa! Almost carbon copy!
jORGE 6:36PM (10/12/2009)
The dodge circuit has so much potential they should throw in the SRT-4 in there n call it a day this brand/company needs somethig excitig all those commercials about "see what we're building for you"
well we wanna see!!!
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mbslrm 6:37PM (10/12/2009)
Why wouldn't they be partnering on R&D? Isn't that the whole point of this merger/acquisition?
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Who Dis? Who Dat? 7:00PM (10/12/2009)
Kudos and compliments to Fiat for working so closely with Chrysler. As more information starts to become available this alliance seems more promising than ever. Given enough time Chrysler may indeed reinvent itself. I surely hope so.
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Frank 9:35AM (10/13/2009)
Well, in just a few months FIAT has done more co-operating with Chrysler than Dumbler did in all the years they owned them.
Chris 7:50PM (10/12/2009)
Ever since the Tesla started shipping, this car has become a "me-too".
If they don't want to be laughed at for trying to sell a small 2 seat sporty electric, they had better design their own chassis. That Dodge Demon concept from a few years ago would be a MUCH better design.
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tankd0g 9:39PM (10/12/2009)
The car pictured was commissioned for Chrysler's little hail mary to get bailed out by the government when they clearly deserved to simply die. It worked, this car will never be built.
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Kaveh 10:32PM (10/12/2009)
Still, all I see is a Lotus with stickers
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