dodge circuit ev

When Chrysler's ENVI trio debuted last September, the stand out was the Dodge EV, if for no other reason than because it was based on a Lotus sports coupe. Now, the Dodge EV has been given a proper name -- Circuit (get it?) -- along with a freshened look for its re-debut at the 2009 Detroit show.
Much like the Tesla Roadster before it, the Dodge Circuit EV is essentially a Lotus with a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor. In the case of the Circuit, ENVI engineers started with a Lotus Europa rather than the Lotus Elise-based Tesla, and for Detroit, Chrysler's grafted a signature Dodge crosshair grille onto the car, making it look something like a baby Viper. Nose job complete, the Circuit EV ditched the Bumble Bee yellow-and-black paint job for a fresh coat of "Tangoreen" orange with big EV graphics and new ENVI badges. Inside, the Circuit EV has been redone in black leather with Satin Silver accents and a premium sound system.
Mechanically, the Circuit EV is essentially unchanged from when we drove it last year. It is still a purely electric vehicle, as there is no room to mount a gasoline-powered range extender in the diminutive sports car. It will reportedly hit 60 mph in under five seconds, run the quarter-mile in the low-thirteen second range and hit a top speed "greater than 100 mph," all the while getting 150 to 200 miles out of a single charge. Like its ENVI stable mates, it can be recharged from a standard 110-volt wall socket, though Chrysler won't say how long it takes to charge, just that the charging time can be halved by using a 220-volt socket instead.