Jeep will launch four all-electric SUVs in the US by 2025
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Nice to see more and more EV options out there. I know Jeep EV won’t be it, but Hopefully this also leads to a bracket in the 25,000-30,000 price range coming soon
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Americans currently prefer larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks. There are obviously efficiency tradeoffs with that, but car manufacturers don't create market demand. If you want the American market to adopt electric vehicles, for the sake of the environment or what have you, giving them tiny compact go-karts isn't going to work. Americans won't buy them.
I foresee a switch to electric crossovers/SUVs, and then over time perhaps the appeal of longer range will drive the market back to smaller vehicles. But for now, due to the limited charging infrastructure already in the United States, the argument of electric SUV vs electric car range really isn't a major factor.
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I'd prefer a Wrangler, but the things that make a Wrangler a Wrangler also make it a terrible BEV platform. If the Recon can hit some of the same notes as the Wrangler in terms of off-road and adverse weather capability, aftermarket accessories, etc, while being designed in such a way to be more efficient as a BEV, that seems like a win-win.
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I continue to follow developments in the BEV SUV space because I would be interested in a 4WD vehicle that meets most of my needs living in a rural area. I still have three concerns that will likely be addressed as battery technology and engines improve:
-Towing. While I don't do it often, we occasionally need to transport small farm equipment such as tillers or our zero turn mower to the shop or around the property.
-Range. The closest town is 15 miles away. The closest large city is 35. Sure, well under the stated ranges above, but what will the range impact when towing? It is 120 miles round trip to Chicago, where at least I know there are charging stations, but I do travel more than 250 miles in state between rural towns.
-Charging stations. When will rural towns and gas stations see build out of recharge stations? If I knew that [insert gas station brand here] guaranteed charging stations throughout the state, that would tip my hand towards purchase.
For now, I'll wait and see how the technology and infrastructure improve over the coming year. My 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk will hopefully survive long enough for the BEV space to improve.
-Towing. While I don't do it often, we occasionally need to transport small farm equipment such as tillers or our zero turn mower to the shop or around the property.
-Range. The closest town is 15 miles away. The closest large city is 35. Sure, well under the stated ranges above, but what will the range impact when towing? It is 120 miles round trip to Chicago, where at least I know there are charging stations, but I do travel more than 250 miles in state between rural towns.
-Charging stations. When will rural towns and gas stations see build out of recharge stations? If I knew that [insert gas station brand here] guaranteed charging stations throughout the state, that would tip my hand towards purchase.
For now, I'll wait and see how the technology and infrastructure improve over the coming year. My 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk will hopefully survive long enough for the BEV space to improve.
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What I really want is for Toyota finally make an electric 4Runner, but that Recon looks amazing!
We regularly go off-roading in the Colorado mountains; it would be nice to not be driving something that’s directly polluting the thing we love.
We regularly go off-roading in the Colorado mountains; it would be nice to not be driving something that’s directly polluting the thing we love.
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After replacing our ICE grocery getter we're looking to replace our 225k mile Xterra. I'm waiting for the full-size Bronco electric. The Wrangler 4xe looks great but I want more creature comfort than a Jeep can provide. My brother-in-law has the truck Jeep Gladiator thing-thing and it is so freaking loud inside it's intolerable.
That Recon on the other hand...it looks really nice. If only it were a little bigger in the back for two German Shepherds...
That Recon on the other hand...it looks really nice. If only it were a little bigger in the back for two German Shepherds...
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As mentioned, this is the body style that buyers are demanding, whether it's BEV or ICE. Here in the suburbs, it's mostly SUVs and crossovers going short trips. Making these BEV will go a long way to reducing gas/oil consumption.
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Yeah.
I'd HOPE teh Recon would be more in the Cherokee vein and not the Grand vein.
I always thought the Cherokee was the best 'all around' Jeep. Wrangler looks cool/more competent offroad but as you said; pretty hard design to squeeze an EV out of.
So if the Recon is more Cherokee like and not full of googaws and gizmos like the Grand I think it could be cool.
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There was a time when an American sedan hauled 6 people and could easily have a hitch added to tow a trailer. Thanks to fuel economy standards and bumper regulations, the sedan is now a compact 4 person hauler. Thus the rise of the gigantic sedan replacement pickup and SUV. A lot of Americans have watercraft and/or campers they like to use and they need a vehicle capable of towing same.
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I like the look of BEV Jeeps. It will be a serious option when I look for a "fun" car in few years time. If Pacifica (actually any manufacturer) had a BEV option, I would be driving it now! Looked at the PHEV but the compromise in the interior (because battery occupied the space) for 20 miles of range seemed wrong. I think it was the lack of stow-able middle seat, and it feels stupid now because I went straight to my first choice Odyssey, which does not have fold into floor seats but that's history now.
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Given the QC issues that I've had with my 2020 Wrangler, I would hesitate to buy a complex EV from the brand, especially since it's one of their first efforts at one. Here's what has gone wrong on my wrangler in < 2 years/16k miles of ownership:
* One of the doors has developed a squeak on opening, which is due to an internal side impact brace that has come unglued (yes, unglued!) The only solution is to replace the door.
* The auto start-stop battery has given out, causing the system to stop working
* The plastic handle and trim to slide the front seat forward have broke off
All the above items will be covered under warranty, but don't bode well for long term reliability unless you're mechanically inclined.
On the other hand, the vehicle pretty much goes where pointed at off road - I have climbed 28 degree inclines without any fuss. It's a lot of fun too - having the doors and roof off is a blast.
* One of the doors has developed a squeak on opening, which is due to an internal side impact brace that has come unglued (yes, unglued!) The only solution is to replace the door.
* The auto start-stop battery has given out, causing the system to stop working
* The plastic handle and trim to slide the front seat forward have broke off
All the above items will be covered under warranty, but don't bode well for long term reliability unless you're mechanically inclined.
On the other hand, the vehicle pretty much goes where pointed at off road - I have climbed 28 degree inclines without any fuss. It's a lot of fun too - having the doors and roof off is a blast.
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My Ioniq 5 has enough torque to haul a trailer or a boat and it's a hatchback only a little bigger than an A3.
It's also sold as an 'SUV' but I think we all know the real answer.
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I like the looks of that Avenger, too bad they arent gonna sell it in the states.
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Think about this: Yeah, towing is going to kill your range. But you aren't towing cross country - just point to point. If that is short enough that you don't need to recharge, then you're golden. You do have to actually think about it - which is something you typically don't have to do in an ICE vehicle. If you have a BEV with a 200 mile range and you're only going 70 miles round trip, even a 50% hit in range will be OK.
Most charging will be done at home. You likely have enough power to charge an EV but if you really are rural, it is probably time to think about going solar if possible.
And you're not going to get your hands on them for a few years (sigh). So, like you point out - watch this space.
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>>car manufacturers don't create market demand
I've heard this line of bull for forty years, it was bull in the seventies, and it's bull now. We can only buy what's manufactured -- and auto designers, marketers, executives and sales putzs are the ones obsessed with 'bigger=better". They give popular cars the equivalent of Cancer, bloating them beyond any sense of waht's desireable in a vehicle.
The original Mustang pony car sold like hotcakes, but by '79 the thing labeled Mustang was an overgrown pig of a death trap. Then the MustangII came out, and sold quite well.
The original Maverick was a decently sized vehicle, and sold well. The new Maverick mini-pickup has sold out, and not just because it's a BEV, but because it's a decent size.
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I don't drive that much anymore (working from home) but when I do, it's often to carry my music gear. So I need something larger, whether that be an SUV or a van (truck, not so much due to the fact that my gear can't get wet, and a cover just makes for a crappier SUV.) A minivan is pretty much superior in every way and that's what I'd really want to see go electric. And no I don't give a shit if it's not as "cool" an SUV (hilariously to me, SUVs now mostly greatly resemble minivans.)
I welcome some of the larger people and stuff haulers electrifying. I reckon the Lightning alone will do more for EV adoption than anything else.
I welcome some of the larger people and stuff haulers electrifying. I reckon the Lightning alone will do more for EV adoption than anything else.
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EV's are vastly less complex than ICE vehicles.
Doors and trim aren't a power train issue and aren't really relevant to if a vehicle is an ICE or a BEV.
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Yes, they're what sell. And it's not as if cars don't exist. Let people drive whatever they want.
Good work from Jeep not calling the Recon the Wrangler EV, that would have really upset Jeep fans.
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I was honestly expecting something extra-tacky like "WranglEr" with a hyper-stylized "E," so "Recon" already far exceeds my expectations.
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Why not keep the iconic round headlights and grill? The front end has sort of a thousand-yard-stare look to it now.
And importantly for the tough guys out there - will the aftermarket still step up to make kits to make your Jeep's headlights look "angry"?
And importantly for the tough guys out there - will the aftermarket still step up to make kits to make your Jeep's headlights look "angry"?
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A nominal range of 250 miles translates into decidedly less friendly range in the real world, once you factor in SoC margins for battery longevity and discounts for highway speeds and hot/cold weather. The world desperately needs advancements in battery energy densities so that something less than 1000 lbs of batteries is needed to provide don't-worry range over most practical driving scenarios.
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I don't think you have a clue what goes into designing and manufacturing a vehicle if you think an executive just decides one day to make a car bigger. The automotive companies live and thrive off of data to understand what is going to sell best. Yes there are vehicles that flop, but you have occasional flops in every industry. The amount of work that goes into designing, sourcing, tooling factories, marketing, etc etc means they can't just randomly decide to make a change.
I'm not saying there is zero market for small vehicles. What I am saying is there is an even bigger market for SUVs and the like. If you really want to make a dent in climate change, why wouldn't you target those consumers with an electric version of what they're looking for? If Jeep decides to not manufacture a large electric SUV, that consumer will just hop over to a brand that does make one. How does that make any business sense?
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The problem here is that the weakness of the Italian made Jeep is in the electronics. I know there are also reports here or there of other items but for a larger common issue- wiring, electronic, yada yada. So, how then should we feel about Ital-Jeep rollouts that are 100% electronic?
I have a 2021 Renegade (2.4l 4Cyl) and its a great fossil burner but its weakness ^^^ .. Electronics. Fix this issue. Also, not all Jeeps are destined to become mall crawlers. Some actually go off-road or drive under less than ideal road conditions. Lithium battery banks, salt, punctures and water a good mix now? How is this dealt with?
I have a 2021 Renegade (2.4l 4Cyl) and its a great fossil burner but its weakness ^^^ .. Electronics. Fix this issue. Also, not all Jeeps are destined to become mall crawlers. Some actually go off-road or drive under less than ideal road conditions. Lithium battery banks, salt, punctures and water a good mix now? How is this dealt with?
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I think you've inadvertently proved the point - if they can't be trusted with all the basic things cars are all cars made of, what should we expect if they take that shoddy design/QC and underpin it with a new drivetrain? At the very least a shoddy EV, or more likely a whole new host of problems plus the old ones.
This is a long standing bias in my own mind, I recognize that, but I have always associated Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram/whatever else with aspiration over execution. A 300C that roughly looks like and is the size of a Bentley Continental, a Challenger with the huge loud powerful engine of a Corvette, and so on. But they're still dime-store derivatives sharing plastic parts from the bin at the end of the day, and those plastic parts have a decent chance of breaking off with normal use.
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Chemical Tribe
Ars Legatus Legionis
I just drove my friends new Honda Pilot. I can clearly see why people would want an SUV, like it or not. It drives very nice, very comfortable, and it gets 28mpg on the highway, and that's not far off from my Kia Soul.
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This is where I'm at too. With a family of 6, not many of the new BEVs could fit us, let alone comfortably, as my sons are quickly growing to match my 6'4" height. When I saw 'Wagoneer S', I started to think that there might be more options for us soon than the Model X or R1S, but alas, no.
I, for one, am all for a return to the lower profile of sedans and especially wagons, but putting a third row in wagons hasn't been a thing since the demise of the 4th-gen Taurus, a vehicle not known for its driving excitement. I'd love it if someone resurrected that body style with the extra passenger capacity, but I'm not holding my breath. I strongly suspect that we won't see very many mass-market non-SUVs for awhile due to the evolutionary disadvantage that sedans and the like have in accidents with taller vehicles.
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Chemical Tribe
Ars Legatus Legionis
That doesn't mean Stelantis has any good idea on how to build one that lasts.
Also if EVs are so not complex, do tell us why they cost so much and make so little money for each OEMs first gen.
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Well that would be one sure way to get this left-leaning, pro-vax, climate concerned citizen to join the “anti-government” movement. (Also, not a moron — my mom had me tested.)
Sorry. I use my SUV as an SUV. Regularly. I’d prefer it be all-electric, but if my hand is forced, I’ll keep the current gas burner as long as possible. And join the revolution if I must.
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The problems that my mechanic (who mostly deal with off road Jeeps) encounter are transmission / running gear issues. Now, they don't get hit with trim / body panel stuff because that's usually warranty. EV running gear will be different and Stelantis actually has some experience in this.
And suspension, hydraulics, gas lines, gas tanks are all weak points in an off road ICE. The way you fix that is with a skid pan. Something that all EVs come with. Not a technically difficult part. Water ingress is a non issue - you have to design and on road vehicle for water and salt exposure.
So yeah, I, for one, am waiting to see how Stelantis performs when the roll out Jeep EVs. But I'm waiting for everyone else to do the same.
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As a Wrangler owner, I am a member of several jeep and off roading related groups and they are pretty much universally despised there as well. Anyone posting a picture of an 'angry grill' usually gets mercilessly mocked.
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How many Americans actually prefer them, vs how many Americans are simply afraid for their lives to buy a smaller vehicle because of all the huge SUVs and pickups their fellow citizens are driving? I think a LOT of people are simply afraid of going splat in a collision with a huge vehicle if they're not in a huge vehicle themselves and stuff like 9000 lbs electric Hummers is only going to further exacerbate this arms race.
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