When you think of electric vehicles, you probably think of either little compact hatchbacks that are really only good for city driving or expensive luxury cars full of high-tech gadgets that still aren’t any good at cross-country trips. But would you believe that Jeep is coming out with an electric Wrangler? The planned vehicle will be a plug-in hybrid rather than a full EV, but that still means you could tackle some serious trails in a Wrangler without a single piston firing.
The New Wrangler
It’s a good time to add more options to the Wrangler because Jeep has only recently come out with the JL, the latest Wrangler generation. It had been a while since the last major redesign, and so the JL brings with it important features like driver assistance, a full-color display in the instrument cluster, and advanced capabilities like a winch-ready bumper and a heavy-duty electrical group ready for power-hungry accessories. It only makes sense that a new plug-in hybrid powertrain would be on that big list of changes.
The Announcement
During the Los Angeles Auto Show, Jeep’s CEO announced that the Wrangler will have a plug-in hybrid option starting in the year 2020. This means the Wrangler will have the kind of range you get from a hybrid but also the ability to shut the engine off completely and let the quiet electric motor run the wheels for a few dozen miles. This will be a perfect fit for drivers who want a Wrangler with enough endurance to tow their camper trailer to a remote park and who also want to hear the nature around them on a rough trail.
The Electric Movement
The Jeep Wrangler isn’t the only Chrysler Group model to get a hybrid design. Not so long ago, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan got a plug-in hybrid version of its own. The upscale Pacifica offers several features you won’t find among its competition, and at this point that includes the only plug-in hybrid minivan out there. It’s not as efficient as other plug-in hybrids thanks to its size, but the Pacifica Hybrid is far more efficient than its competition with 84 combined MPGe and an estimated 566-mile range.
The Future-Proofing
The 2020 plug-in hybrid is just one of the changes coming to the new JL Wrangler. The older model had been infamous for being something of a gas guzzler, and so Jeep has put a priority on making sure the new model wouldn’t turn away conscientious customers. For one thing, the new Wrangler’s base engine is more efficient than the old model was, and you can get even better efficiency from a turbo I-4 engine that uses electrical assistance to get 25 highway mpg. It will also get a diesel option for even better fuel efficiency.
The plug-in hybrid Wrangler will be a big step toward creating a rugged off-road vehicle with good fuel efficiency. Plug-in hybrids are normally made for cities and highways, so it will be interesting to see just what a hybrid Wrangler can offer.
Image via Jeep.com
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