Picture Gallery: Dodge Circuit

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Dodge Circuit EV

Posted Sunday, Jan 11, 2009 at 1:26 pm in Company News

• Dodge Circuit EV: Brand new version of all-electric sports car boasts unique, fearless Dodge design
• All-electric vehicle delivers sports car performance with zero gasoline consumption, zero tailpipe emissions and 150-200 mile driving range

The Dodge Circuit EV displays bold exterior and interior styling with outstanding performance, zero gasoline consumption and zero tailpipe emissions.

The Dodge Circuit EV design screams pure sports car from every angle. The Dodge Circuit EV’s profile demonstrates perfect proportions for balanced handling, placing the driver and passenger midway along the wheelbase. At the front of the vehicle, the distinctive Dodge crosshair grille splits the wind, sending it over the long, low hood and cleanly over the windshield and cockpit. The body sides feature a deep scallop, providing visual depth and also a functional rear-brake air duct. At the rear, the functional elements blend with design to create a uniform finish.

“The exterior styling of the Dodge Circuit EV mates bold Dodge styling to the no-compromise performance attributes of an all-electric performance sports car,” Ralph Gilles, Vice President—Design, said. “The Dodge Circuit EV offers an extremely fun-to-drive, expressive sports car without fuel consumption and with virtually no impact on the environment.”

The Dodge Circuit EV is adorned in all-new “Tangoreen” exterior color, wearing large “EV” graphics on both sides of the sports car.

The uncomplicated interior of the Dodge Circuit EV delivers a combination of pure function and athletic refinement. The cockpit design puts complete control of the car at the driver’s fingertips. Nestled within a leather-covered instrument cluster are two primary analog-face gauges. A digital display conveys information regarding the electric-drive system.

The seats feature deep bolsters and are covered in premium leather. The same premium leather covers the center console and the width of the instrument panel.

The Dodge Circuit EV delivers all of the convenience features of a performance sports car, including premium sound system, power windows and door locks, air conditioning, speed control.

Propelled by a completely electric ENVI drivetrain, the Dodge Circuit EV posts impressive performance numbers:

• 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds
• ¼-mile in 13 seconds
• Top speed of more than 120 mph

Perhaps the most impressive Dodge Circuit EV number, however, is zero. That’s how much gasoline the vehicle consumes while providing exhilarating sports car performance. It’s also how much tailpipe emissions are produced.

The Dodge Circuit EV utilizes just three powertrain components. These include a 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor and a controller that manages energy flow.

Working with the latest advanced lithium-ion battery technology, the Dodge Circuit EV has a driving range of 150 to 200 miles between charges—more than triple the average daily commute of most consumers. Recharging the vehicle is a simple one-step process: plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet. The recharge time can be cut in half by using a typical 220-volt household appliance power outlet.

The Dodge Circuit EV offers driving enthusiasts a performance sports car that can be driven to work every day—without consuming gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions.

Dodge Circuit EV – Vehicle Specifications

Vehicle Type Battery Electric Vehicle,
2-passenger performance coupe

Weight and Dimensions
Length 153.5 inches / 3900 mm
Width 67.5 inches / 1714 mm
Height 45.3 inches / 1150 mm
Wheelbase 91.7 inches / 2330 mm
Track front / rear 57.4 inches / 1457 mm 58.7 inches / 1490 mm
Turn circle 38.0 feet / 11.6 m

Powertrain and Suspension
Layout Rear-wheel drive
Motor Power: 200 kW (268 hp)
Regenerative braking
Battery Lithium-ion battery
Suspension Front - Independent
Rear - Independent

Wheels and Tires
Tire size front P195 / 45ZR17 23.9 inches / 607 mm
Tire size rear P235 / 40ZR18 25.4 inches / 645 mm

Color Scheme
Exterior Tangoreen
Interior Black Leather with Satin Silver accents

Key Performance Attributes
0-60 mph (0-100 kph) less than 5 seconds
Standing ¼-mile low-13 seconds
Top speed greater than 120 mph (approximately 193 kph)
All-electric range 150-200 miles (approximately 241-322 km)



19 Photos of Dodge Circuit


The Scoop Photo Gallery

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There are definitely lithium-ion batteries under the hood of the bright orange Dodge Circuit electric sports car that Chrysler unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. But if the car goes into production they may well have another manufacturer’s name on them.

Carmakers are being very cagey about their battery suppliers because they’re in an international race to find the best technology, especially if it is accompanied by significant manufacturing capacity. Few carmakers are actually in the battery business, so they’re unusually dependent on outside manufacturers, some of which are fairly recent startups.

On the floor in Detroit, Lou Rhodes, president of Chrysler’s ENVI division, was standing next to the Circuit with a proprietary air. The company has shown no less than five electric and hybrid prototype vehicles (including a minivan and two Jeeps), and it says one will be in production by 2010, and three more on the market by the end of 2013.

“We haven’t announced our battery supplier,” he said. “But having a domestic source for the cells and the pack close to our production points is clearly preferable for us.”

Chrysler wants to buy American. “Making lithium-ion batteries is a very automated process, so there’s not a very big price advantage making them outside the U.S.,” he said.

Since many of the leading lithium battery companies are either based in Asia or have their manufacturing there, this is definitely good news for U.S. startups looking for partners. Christina Lampe-Onnerud may have been born in Sweden, but her battery company, Boston-Power, is all-American.

The company supplies its long-lived Sonata batteries to HP laptop computers, but it hopes to get into the hybrid and electric vehicle market within three to five years. It announced $55 million in new venture capital funding today, from Oak Investment Partners, Venrock, GGV Capital and Gabriel Venture Partners.

“Absolutely, it can be profitable to make batteries here in the U.S.,” she said. “We would love to be a part of creating a large domestic industry for automotive batteries. We can leverage the extraordinary can-do sense of innovation America has.”

Of course, Boston-Power’s batteries are now made in Taiwan, but for the right opportunity the company would start scouting locations right here in the U.S.A.

LINK:Detroit Auto Show: For Chrysler, Batteries Born in the U.S.A. | BNET Auto Blog | BNET