Envi (automobile)
- For other uses of the word, see Envi (disambiguation).
| Former type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automobile |
| Fate | dissolved |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Defunct | November 2009 |
| Headquarters | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States |
| Products | Electric-Drive Vehicles |
| Parent | Chrysler Group LLC |
ENVI was a division of Chrysler Group LLC formed in 2007 to create electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies.[1]
Birth and dissolution
ENVI was headed by Lou Rhodes who had been in charge of "Advance Vehicle Concepts and Innovation" at Chrysler Group LLC. The group was dedicated solely to creating production vehicles, and not basic engineering research.
Chrysler's new owner Fiat SpA disbanded the division in November 2009, removed the three ENVI models from its 5-year plan for Chrysler, and Chrysler announced Lou Rhodes will become the group line executive in charge of electric car development for both Fiat and Chrysler. [2] The first electric vehicle planned from Fiat-Chrysler is an electrified Fiat Doblò light commercial van.[3]
Planned products
In September 2008, ENVI revealed three "production intent" electric vehicles to the public and announced that Chrysler Group LLC will start bringing a portfolio of electric vehicles to showrooms in 2010. The vehicles were the electric-only Dodge EV sports car, the range-extended Chrysler EV minivan and the range-extended Jeep EV. All used advanced lithium-ion batteries.[4] At the time Chrysler said it was investigating in-wheel motors and dual battery chemistries.[5]
The ENVI group was also creating a new hybrid vehicle from "the ground up" in the same manner as was designed the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.
See also
- Dodge Circuit EV
- Chrysler 200C
- Chrysler Town and Country EV
- Jeep Wrangler EV
- Jeep Patriot EV
- GEM
References
- ↑ "Chrysler LLC Creates ENVI" (Press release). Chrysler LLC. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2009-11-17. "Nardelli, LaSorda Announce New Chrysler Organization Focused on Electric-drive Vehicles"
- ↑ Kevin Kroliki (2009-11-06). "Chrysler dismantles electric car plans under Fiat". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ Alisa Priddle (2009-11-10). "Chrysler revamps electric program". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ Mike Ellis (2008-09-23). "Chrysler Goes Electric - First Electric Vehicles on Roads Next Year". http://blog.chryslerllc.com. Chrysler LLC. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ "Chrysler Unveils Production-Intent Electric Drive Technology; Three Prototypes, One to Be Produced in 2010". Green Car Congress. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
External links
Most references to ENVI were removed from Chrysler web sites in November 2009.
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