Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler, Dodge, Detroit Auto Show
New Dodge EV to be called Circuit
The sleuths over at Jalopnik have managed to uncover the name of the new electric Dodge that is expected to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week: the Dodge Circuit. The news comes by way of the US Patent and Trademark Office, and after a little bit of searching we managed to locate the official registration here. We've already seen spy shots of the little electric coupe, so we know that the automaker is feverishly getting it ready for its first public outing. We're expecting to see plenty of Dodge-specific styling cues - especially the Ramified cross-hair grille as seen in the Demon concept (pictured above) - when it greets us in Detroit in lieu of the Lotus shell that sat atop the UQM drivetrain when the Dodge EV was first shown in concept form. If all goes according to plan, which is a big "if," Chrysler hopes to have its electric sportscar in dealer showrooms sometime in 2010.
[Source: USPTO via Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Rowell 3:43PM (1/09/2009)
First!! (Hey everyone else does it, LOL)
Looks like 2010 is going to be the big year of the electric car. Several companies are pinning their hopes of survival on putting their EVs in showrooms around the end of next year. Looking forward to more details on the Circuit from the Detroit Auto Show! Gonna keep a close watch on this blog :D
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Cellien 3:51PM (1/09/2009)
Cool and fitting name. They got step one right!
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CDUB 3:53PM (1/09/2009)
I'd rather have the Jeep EV
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Rich 5:30PM (1/09/2009)
I'd rather have a HUMMER.
OK...
Just joking...
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gorr 5:47PM (1/09/2009)
You pure EV fans are very patient peoples. Ev have to be conceive by chrsler, ford, gm, etc. Then firstly all these compagnies have said that batteries are a problems and just li-ion seem right at the moment. Then they have to wait for subsidies because every auto-manufacturers are in depts including toyota. Then they have to re-do the assembly line and change tooling and suppliers. If everything goes right it will take 2 years and billions in investment before 1 car is put on sale in a showroom at a bigger price then a normal car because everything is new.
On the other hand hydrogen cars are ready since years and years and tested without problems and the assembly process is planned from years and gm and toyota said last summer that they were ready to begin commercialisation. So , why reject hydrogen proposed from years and hope for battery rejected by gm and toyota up to now. Well it's because you don't trust anyone because you don't know anything and you trust only limp promises. These battery cars won't sell because when the time come the same naysayers about hydrogen and green algae fuel will reject this as they reject everything automatically anyway.
Consumers will buy the least expensives cars because they don't give a damm about ABG nor anything else. They won't buy because it's written here that it's good and promoted by journalists, federal reserve, big oil, u.s.a goverment, europe union.
They can maybe take a free car from project better place instead.
So this site have sold the world to banks, every as* included.
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Red 6:08PM (1/09/2009)
Besides the obligatory, "wtf", hydrogen is not in fact, "ready right now". In test phases, yes. In mass quantities, no. Not to mention, Honda switching from an ultracapacitor in the first gen. FCX to lithium ion batteries for the second gen. FCX Clarity makes everything else you said a moot point.
Looks like you don't know anything either...
pkuhl 6:43PM (1/09/2009)
Hydrogen is rejected for scientific reason. Thermodynamics tells you it hydrogen fuel cells cars cannot be more efficient than an electric car, and thus, we really should be investing in the electric storage unit (battery or otherwise).
The only upside to the fuel cell design is that when you eventually replace it with a battery, you will have a great car.
Gordio 9:56PM (1/09/2009)
hydrogen cars cost $600,000.
Craig 6:08PM (1/09/2009)
It looks like Elon Musk has succeeded, EVs are popping up everywhere. Unfortunately, his car company may not join the party.
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Chris M 2:59AM (1/10/2009)
Not join the party? Right now, Tesla Motors IS the party! Tesla is in production, delivering cars to happy customers, and their 2nd model should be arriving in about 2 years, just like the others.
Red 6:09PM (1/09/2009)
Patent Office leaks are so not cool...
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Red 6:11PM (1/09/2009)
For the record, Honda's FCX was but one example of many, but you get the drift.
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Randy C. 6:22PM (1/09/2009)
I got an error when I tried to click the "locate the official registration here" button. The link provided was apparently the result of a search function. That has expired or will only work on the computer that actually started the search.
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jpm 9:09PM (1/09/2009)
Good to see all the major mfg's jumping on the EV bandwagon.
I'm thinking Chrysler could have done better than "Circuit"... kinda lame. I say continue with the last names of scientists who expanded the EE field: Tesla, Faraday, Maxwell...
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Gordio 10:02PM (1/09/2009)
I think circuit is cool because it sounds fast. It may not be a good thing to have a name that reminds you of electricity due to the public not associating electricity with damn hell ass speed.
jpm 10:51PM (1/09/2009)
Well, the public is mostly stupid and misinformed. Electricity travels just under the speed of light.
Bobo 12:50AM (1/10/2009)
I think circuit is a good name. It's certainly better than impact, probe, or corinthian leather. Good thing it's sporty. As long as they don't let George Lucas mess with it, or have that chick from evanescense sing the commercial, it should do well. I bet Obama would grok it.
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leo 9:34AM (1/10/2009)
Lots of interesting comments regarding hydrogen cars..
I have nothing against hydrogen as a fuel for fuelcells; the exhaust products are just water. now, that isn't bad is it? the problem is supplying the hydrogen. i think that if we can crack this problem, then H2/fuel cells is the way forward for EVs.I am sure that chemists in the future will develop methods to lower the thermodynamic constraints on hydrogen product (e.g. use of catalysts to lower activation barriers) and have methods to store hydrogen in a form other than at 300 bar pressure in a rather risky gas canister. However, what we need now is to up the ante in research and development big time. What are the oil companies doing with all their profits?? We need legislation to force these oil giants to stick in billions of dollors yearly into renewable energy research.
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Mike!!ekiM 10:28AM (1/10/2009)
This looks like a very attractive 2ed car for a family. And they didn't name it the "Impact" or the "Probe". That means they really want people to buy them.
Looking forward to more info.
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Bobo 11:31AM (1/10/2009)
"the exhaust products are just water. now, that isn't bad is it?"
In climates with freezing temps it could be a real problem, all that water vapor settling on the roadways as ice, even if there is no other precipitation present. Imagine the field day lawyers are going to have that! Recapture is an option. But, hydogen is too energy intensive to produce to be a cost effective fuel to start with. I can't see it really catching on. But some people still believe the earth is flat; there will always be those who won't let the facts get in the way of a good story.
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