• September 24, 2008

Chrysler hopes to give Chevy Volt a little company in the nascent electric-car segment. The Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker today unveiled the first fruits of labor from its ENVI electric-vehicle development lab. The company says one of three electric cars will go on sale in 2010.

The Dodge EV, the Jeep EV and the Chrysler EV are still prototypes, but the company says says it plans to bring a range of such vehicles --from front- and rear-wheel drive to cars and SUVs--to market.

Chrysler says it will put 100 electric vehicles in government, business and Chrysler development fleets next year.

The Dodge EV is a two-passenger rear-wheel drive sports car with a range of 150 miles between recharges. The Jeep EV is an off-road electric take on Wrangler that matches an electric motor and lithium-ion battery system with a small gasoline engine that has a 40 mile electri-only range.

The Chrysler EV, a minivan, can do likewise.--Karl Greenberg