- Electric-vehicle conversion specialist AMP will unveil a new battery-powered version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
- AMP currently makes an electric version of the Mercedes-Benz ML350 crossover, which it began selling last spring.
- The Grand Cherokee EV is expected to share much of the electric drive system components and battery pack with the Mercedes ML.
CINCINNATI — AMP Electric Vehicles, which specializes in converting SUVs and crossovers to run on battery power, will unveil its latest effort — a battery-powered version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee — at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The company currently makes an electric version of the Mercedes-Benz ML350 crossover, which it began selling last spring.
The AMP Electric ML350 has a lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack and a range of up to 100 miles. It can accelerate from zero to 60 in less than 10 seconds, and has a top speed of 100 mph. The battery pack takes six hours to recharge on 220 volts or 15.5 hours on 110 volts.
The Grand Cherokee EV is expected to share much of the electric drive system components and battery pack with the Mercedes ML.
AMP, which was founded in 2007, earlier converted a Chevrolet Equinox as a demonstration vehicle for its EV technology.
The company said it would announce pricing, initial delivery dates and market distribution for the new Grand Cherokee EV at the Detroit auto show.
Inside Line says: This one appears to be aimed mainly at fleet customers.
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rpvitiello says:
11:10 PM, 12/24/2011
rayzor
Why is an SUV the "wrong" application. FAR more people buy Grand Cherokees than Fiat 500's in the USA. SUV's tend to pollute more than a small car, so they offer a chance to lower pollution even more than just changing a fiat 500 from gas to electric.
This is not a hybrid, it's a pure electric conversion.
This platform was developed when Jeep and Mercedes were still the same company and it shares a platform with the ML350, so yes it IS the same vehicle as a Mercedes, just with different styling. If the power-train fit in the MB then it probably took next to no work to just offer it in this vehicle as well since its the SAME platform.
Battery packs are usually pretty big. SUV's have far more room to fit the battery pack and still offer cargo room. All those little tiny cars have absolutely NO cargo room once the battery pack is installed. They are utterly useless for anything other than a single person driving to and from work each day, and NO other function.
rayzor says:
04:40 PM, 12/24/2011
right technology, just a wrong application. An over weight SUV is not a good starting platform for a company new to Hybrid technology. Ok, so Mercedes has similar system but Jeep is not MB! Maybe later on into the program, Fiat 500 sized would be a better starting place. It will show better range, higher fuel mileage; that's how you encourage stockholders and consumers, win some brownie points with the environmental groups...
mikle says:
04:31 PM, 12/24/2011
Like the Flower pot on top, standard or optional?
karz4life10 says:
06:52 AM, 12/23/2011
Well this will really hep the jeep market, and i wondar if this will out sell the prius, after all i see so many of the grand charokees around.