Jeepster

The North American International Auto Show is one of the biggest events of its kind and it is only fitting that the new concept vehicle from our beloved Jeep was unveiled. Named the Jeep Renegade, the concept vehicle is already becoming a show stealer at the event.

We all know that Jeep is all about building vehicles which can tackle any off-road surface.  But the automaker has upped the ante and raises the bar for its competitor with the unveiling of the Renegade. Said vehicle is created by a group inside Chrysler that goes by the name of ENVI.  This group has been tasked to design quality vehicles which are also as eco-friendly as they come.  No doubt, the arrival of former Toyota head Jim Press is instrumental in the development of green vehicles.

What powers this advanced concept vehicle is a dual electric motor which can produce as much as 268 horsepower.  Since Ni-MH batteries are said to be not enough for automotive application, the Renegade’s power is stored in a Li-ion battery pack.  The concept uses two electric motors on each axle thus making it easier for the car to crawl over rocks as there are two power sources driving the front and the rear wheels independent from each other.

The automaker announced that the Renegade concept’s Li-ion battery pack can power it for more or less 40 miles. If the battery pack lacks power, a 1.5-liter BLUETEC diesel engine will come to life to recharge the battery and power the vehicle.  Hopefully, the automaker can bring the cost of production so that it can be mass produced already.  I know many people will be lining up to own one of these green off-road machines.