Dodge Circuit EV Review

Introduction

The Dodge Circuit EV, two passenger rear wheel drive sports car is based on the Lotus Europa, converted to a plug-in Electric Vehicle with 600lbs of lithium-ion batteries (35 kWh capacity) and an electric motor. This high performance vehicle has a power-train replaced by a 268 horsepower and 480 pound-feet torque 200-kilowatt electric motor that can reach zero to 60mph in 4.7 seconds, which puts it on par with the Dodge Challenger SRTs 6.1-liter V-8 Hemi. The vehicle is comparable to the lightweight Lotus Elise or the Exige S sports cars; only about 2,000 of the Elise and Exige are sold annually in the US.

The Dodge Circuit EV, a high performance, zero emissions sports coupe will hit the market by 2010.

Still A Prototype

Although the Dodge Circuit electric vehicle is still prototype at this point, it more than lives up to its expectations.The Circuit can reach a top speed of 120 mph (limited by a 13,500 RPM redline) and runs the 1/4 mile in 13 seconds. Chrysler boasts this new sporty EV doesn't compromise performance, agility, space of design. However, one must consider that the maximum range on the vehicle is about 150 to 200 miles which is substantially less than a gasoline powered engine. On the bright side, this is three times farther than the average daily commute of most Americans.

Although the Dodge Circuit EV is a good looking vehicle, it seems it's not getting as many oohs and ahhs as I would expect. Perhaps that's just the orange version that people don't seem to like (see images further down the page).

Battery Charged Environmental Goodness

The Dodge Circuit EV definitely appeals to the environmentally conscious consumer, with zero emissions and zero gasoline consumption. You probably wont be doing more than driving the vehicle around town, otherwise you may risk being stranded for a long period of time. Most likely this will not be your only vehicle either. A standard 110-volt household outlet can charge the vehicle in 12 hours, and a 220-volt household outlet can cut the charging time down to 6hrs.

The interior is sharp and clean, just like you would expect from any sports car.

Electric Motors Outperform Gas In Efficiency

Electric motors are 92% efficient compared to gas motors which are only 30% efficient. In fact, a single gallon of gasoline has a full potential of over 45 kWH-- much more than the total 35 kWH of energy held by the 600lb lithium-ion battery pack in the Dodge Circuit EV. Based on the EPA draft legislation the vehicle will most likely get over 100mpg--although nothing is final yet as to how electric vehicles will be rated.

Perhaps one day kids will brag about their amps instead of horsepower...


The Dodge Circuit EV unassisted steering is precise, although the massive 600lb battery pack noticeably puts a bit of extra weight on the back end of the 2650lb vehicle, making the front end noticeably lighter during acceleration. The car already under-steers, so this makes the problem a little more severe. Don't bother trying to 'burn rubber'. The software controller only gives you partial power when the vehicle is not moving to prevent wheel-spin. Hitting the gas pedal hard once the car is moving shows more of the vehicles full potential, allowing the 295 pound-feet torque to work unbridled.

It's probably not a good idea to play with this powerful high voltage/ high amperage battery unless you want to ride the lightning.


Decelerating battery regeneration is set by the throttle and not the brake, which keeps the brake pedal firm and responsive unlike other electric vehicles. The power remains consistent and linear unlike many CVT hybrids which surge annoyingly. The Dodge Circuit EV is still enjoyable to drive despite the lack of an engine sound, or a shifter. Additional prototypes are already in production in Michigan, Arizona, and in the UK. The Dodge Circuit will be released between 2010 and 2013 with a few other electric vehicles from Chrysler's ENVI group, including the Jeep Patriot EV,
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV, and the Chrysler Town & Country EV.

This is an orange version of the EV. I love my orange sorbet ice cream--but it's a bit extreme for a car. You'll probably get a few extra speeding tickets for being so noticable while you're speeding in this sports car. Maybe an environmentally conscious policeman will just let you off with a warning.


Chrysler hopes to sell at least 100,000 electric vehicles per year to drive down the cost of the $25,000 battery pack through economies of scale. This would enable the dodge circuit to be priced for less than the $110,950 Tesla sports car (most likely about $85,000). The new EV craze is a dramatic change for most automakers worldwide, and Chrysler is no exception. The 100 plus mile per gallon Dodge Circuit EV is a major departure from models such as the politically incorrect, gas guzzling Dodge Viper. Overall, the Dodge Circuit EV delivers great performance, handling and style with zero emissions.

Here's another view of the orange Dodge Circuit EV.


The Dodge EV includes a 268 horsepower electric motor as well as an advanced lithium-ion battery. The only other component to the drive system is a controller that manages energy flow and Chrysler claims the Circuit has a range of 150 to 200 miles.

Of course there's no gas-tank. This is simply where you plug in to re-charge. Once cars like the Dodge Circuit EV start to hit the market, we will probably see electric charging stations as a standard at most of our current gas stations.


Here are Preliminary Specs for the Dodge Circuit EV:
Vehicle Type & Body Style:Mid motor rear-wheel drive 2 passenger 2 door coupe, performance sports coupe
Drive-train: Electric propulsion, rear-wheel drive (Battery Electric Vehicle)

Power-train and Suspension
Motor Type: DC permanent-magnet electric motor
Power (SAE net): 200 kW (268 hp @ 5500 RPM)
Torque (SAE net): 295 lb-ft @ 0 rpm
Energy Recovery: Regenerative braking
Battery: Lithium-ion
Suspension: Front – Independent, Rear – Independent
Transmission: 1-speed direct drive

Dimensions:
wheelbase 91.7 in length: 153.5 in
width: 67.5 in height:45.3 in
curb weight: 2650 lb

Charging:
On-board charger, dual voltage
110/120-volt outlet (15A) – standard household power outlet
220/240-volt outlet: (30A) – household appliance power outlet

Performance
0-60 mph: 4.7 Seconds (Chrysler hopes this will be 4.2 by production time)
¼-mile Acceleration: 13.0 Seconds
Top speed: 120 mph (redline limited)
All-electric range: 150-200 miles

Estimated Base Price: $85,000

Tags: Electric Car, Electric Vehicle, Electric Vehicles, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Zero Emissions, Environmentally Friendly, Future of Cars, EV, Hybrid, Chevy Volt Electric Vehicle, Toyota Prius, Dodge Circuit EV, Nissan Leaf EV, BMW Mini E, E-mini, GM Buick Plug-In SUV, EPA MPG

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