Chrysler’s “Gated Community” Pea-Pod Electric Car

Editors note: this is a guest contribution by Adam Shake

When I was a kid, my buddy Carl’s parents had a golf cart.  It was a small blue one with outdoor carpeting on the floor boards.  Open to the sky with a freshly charged battery and it begged to be driven, and oh boy, did we drive it.  A bit too long as it turns out, and there was Carl’s Dad, waiting on the front steps when we arrived home 2 hours late.

The only thing that could have made that day better would have been if the golf cart had been a Chrysler Pea-Pod.

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What’s a Pea-Pod?  It’s Chrysler’s new “Neighborhood Electric Vehicle” concept, or NEV.

An NEV, is a federally classified low-speed vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 pounds and a top speed between 20 and 25 mph. It is generally restricted to streets with a maximum speed limit of 35 mph. Because airbags are not required, an NEV cannot travel on highways.

Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli calls it an electric vehicle for “gated communities,” and Peter Arnell, Chrysler’s chief innovation officer, describes the look as “upbeat and positive.”  With two large doors, a full roof and huge, oversize window’s, it’s definitely a head turner.  With cabin features like iPod integration and mesh seating, you too may find yourself sitting on the front steps, waiting for the kids to finally get home with it.

Posts Related to Electric Cars and Chrysler:

• Chrysler to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. as Early as 2010
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• “Producible” Chrysler Plug-In Hybrid: 0-60 in 4 Seconds
• San Jose Wins Bid For Tesla Electric Car Facility

Sources: Edmunds inside line, Automk
Image Credit: Chrysler

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