Will FCA Ever Make an All-electric Jeep Wrangler?
At CES last year, FCA announced plans to make a PHEV version of the Wrangler—but what about an all-electric version?
As the world’s population gravitates toward electric cars, auto makers are scrambling to fit in on electric avenue. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are coming in troves, and are showing no signs of slowing down. Additionally, as more and more places to charge a full-electric vehicle (EV) crop up, more EVs are hitting the lots. Now, FCA presented some information that suggest we may see one of FCA’s biggest and most successful cash cows, into an EV. Mark Allen, a design chief for FCA’s Jeep division, claims it would actually make for a better Wrangler all together.
“I truly believe that if we do an electric Wrangler, sometime in the future, that would actually be a better Wrangler…” says Allen confidently for CarAdvice‘s Rob Margeit. “Are there definite plans for that? No, not at the moment. Is that on the horizon? I think probably, yes.”
For Allen, the deviation from the traditional internal combustion engine is both important and imminent. But he truly believes that making the Wrangler all-electric would make it more capable. For one, we all know that electric motors are torque-y. Like, 100 percent of the engine’s available torque at 0 rpm kind of torque-y. Therefore, having all that torque being driven to all four-wheels instantaneously would make for some seriously quiet and successful boulder crawling. Don’t quote us on this as it’s pure speculation: Depending on how well FCA would do their waterproofing, it may also mean that the Wrangler could handle a lot more water without the need for a snorkel.
“If we [make the Wrangler all-electric], it shouldn’t be a compliance play because to me, it doesn’t really matter where the power comes from,” says Allen. “Just that it goes to all four wheels. That’s what’s important.”
As Margeit is quick to point out, at 2019’s CES Show, they not only announced their plans to produce a PHEV Wrangler, but also a Compass and Renegade. Plus, FCA separately declared that they plan on offering an electric version of each model across all lineups. Though Allen didn’t confirm that there aren’t any meetings at FCA about making an EV Wrangler, there haven’t been any meetings about not making an EV Wrangler, either. So, the possibility of having the world’s most capable and quiet off-roader is still a real possibility.
“If we did an electric vehicle, you’d have the ability to control each wheel’s speed and direction individually. That’s huge,” notes Allen. “That’s a big deal for maneuverability and off-road traction. The possibilities open up for us rather than close down… It’s about making a better Wrangler. A more capable off-road vehicle. That could happen.”
Our fingers are most definitely crossed. A Wrangler that achieves better miles-per-gallon, has a bunch of torque when you need it most, and doesn’t pollute? What’s not to be excited about?
Photos: FCA
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