Driving the Jeep Wrangler EV: Can Eco-Friendly and Trail-Rated Co ...

18/11/2008 06:06. Of course the sports car is nice, but the real challenge for Chrysler tech engineers is to build an electric vehicle Jeep guys won't dismiss. What they've come up with so far is Wrangler Unlimited that uses an electric motor to drive the rear wheels, lithium-Ion batteries to store the energy, a super-computer controller to manage the energy flow, and a small engine/generator needed to produce power when storage ratings in the batteries fall below 30-percent.

Simply put, the Jeep EV will run on full electric power up to 40 miles, then act something like a hybrid after that, where the generator produces power directly to the electric motor as needed. Any extra energy during braking or off-throttle situations will be routed into the batteries. The gasoline tank (which can also hold E85... // TruckTrend Magazine