Chrysler to Launch ‘PeaPod’ Electric Cars Worldwide in 2010
Chrysler has announced plans to launch its PeaPod electric car worldwide in 2010. The compact city EV will be available as a one-seater, a two-seater or a utility van, at prices starting from around $20,000.
Developed by Chrysler-owned Green Eco Mobility (GEM), the PeaPod is capable of travelling 40 miles on a single charge. According to the company’s innovation chief, Peter Arnell, this is more than enough for most daily commutes.
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In an effort to cut costs, and keep life-cycle CO2 emissions to a minimum, Chrysler plans to build the PeaPod in exisiting factories located as close to its key markets as possible. Depending on the success of the launch, company boss Bob Nardelli has hinted that similar technology could be used in mainstream Chrysler models in the future.
The competition is likely to keep a close eye on the reception for the PeaPod, especially given its potential niche appeal as a quirky and (fairly) affordable EV for urban use.
Image Credit - Chrysler
Don’t think this is a good idea, too small, to ugly, to expensive, just totally too yesterday.
Lets step up your game. Come with something that would really WOW me. This just doesn’t. Not impressed.
This ain’t no golf cart. I have an Yamaha electric golfcart that will go 45 mph and a gas golfcart that will do 65 mph. This doesn’t fit into the golf cart caterogy at a whopping 25 mph. If you are worried about registering and insuring your vehicals and this saves you a buck more power to ya. If my car only went 25 mph I’d probly take up hitch hiking. Now thats a savings right there and I’ll pass myself on the way.
With this kind of prototype coming down the pipe for
2010, they will need another 25,000000000000.00 to
keep up with the competition.
too bad chrysler’s about to go under. this will never happen. they dont have the money to mass produce these. it’s just an expensive knockoff of the Smart fourtoo. i’d rather pay 18k for one of those fully loaded.
This is a great idea but cost of vehicle & range at this time I think is prohibitive.
Think about it, it’s an ugly, smiling, ridiculous looking see-through skate, but small enough that when you die, they could just drop you in the ground in it!
[...] has been working on EVs for the past 10 years and has a pretty cool car coming down the line (although we’ll see how Chrysler weathers our current economic storm). I [...]
Love it!!! Can’t wait to take it for a spin
Price tag is a little high if you’re pricing the one seater starting at $20 grand??? Hope this happens!!!
These misplaced commentators miss the point entirely! This is NOT an everyone’s car! The point being missed here is that Chrysler is already the number one producer of street worthy electric cars in the US, from their GEM division. The Peapod is a “pretty GEM, with a more comfortable interior. It seats 2 or 4, not 1 or 2, and costs about the same as a GEM with hard doors, already available. The Peapod will make it possible for Chrysler to continue to produce the larger, less fuel efficient vehicles, since the Peapod adds to the total CAGE. They also have the ENVI program of electric vehicles and an all new fuel efficient Phoenix V8 coming. The 200EV, shown at Detroit Auto Show, is coming. A host of new products will be introduced over the next 3 years. No, Chrysler will NOT become part of GM…GM cannot afford Chrysler and is in worse shape money wise and management wise. Get with it!
I like the idea, but the price seems really high.
It probably will meet a certain niche audience, and I would love to see the target marketing plan for it.
What is the age range - geographic area - income range etc.
Cheers