The Chevrolet Volt seems to gathering all the attention from consumers as far as electric vehicles are concerned. But as we focus on it, Chrysler has its own electric vehicle concept that is already being test driven by auto enthusiast magazine writers.
The car is the Dodge Circuit EV and, recently, said writers had a chance to try it out at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan.
The Circuit features a 286 horsepower electric motor with 295 lb-ft of torque. It is powered by a 35 kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery pack. The powertrain is fully electric which assists to make the motor close to 90 percent efficient while a gasoline engine is said to be 30 percent efficient. Expected fuel economy rating for the Circuit could be 100 plus mpg and its range could be about 150 miles on a single charge.
The Lotus Europa is the model for the Dodge Circuit. Thus, the Circut is a two-seater which writers say that the interior space is tight and storage area is small. Because the rear of the vehicle carries the battery pack, the front is lighter and the additional weight of the battery pack results in body roll and less precise motion.
Drivers like the powerful electric motor which provides torque anywhere on the RPM range. It achieves 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. They conclude that at times they forgot that they were driving an electric car.
Chrysler has not said whether the Dodge Circuit EV will be put into production.
