Dodge Circuit EV Concept
One of the surefire ways to increase a vehicle’s efficiency is to make it lighter. The less a car weighs, the less energy is required to make it move. So, for their new Circuit EV Concept, Dodge turned to one of the premier manufacturers of light sports cars; Lotus. The resulting vehicle is derived from that company’s Elise hard-top model, packs more horsepower and more than double the amount of torque, and maintains the originals sleek styling.
For those who have never seen a Lotus Elise, pretty much imagine the above pictured vehicle with the Dodge emblem removed from the car. They didn’t change much from the original, and with good cause. The motto for building a Lotus has been “add lightness” ever since the company began. With that philosophy, they were able to take a car powered by a modest GM-derived four-cylinder engine and turn it into an incredible beast on the race track. So, how will the car fare with the gas engine removed and an electric motor put in its place?
On the power side of things, the changes are impressive. Electric motors have a consistent output of torque across the entire speed range, and when the amount put out is 480 lb-ft, when compared to the gasoline Elise’s 200, that makes for some quick starts off the line. The Circuit also has 268 horsepower from the electric motor, over the Elise’s 197, but the top speed is electronically limited to 120 mph in order to maintain battery efficiency and keep the motor from overheating. Unless you’re taking the Circuit to a track, that won’t be a problem for most drivers.
Further helping in the weight loss is the lack of a transmission. Because the electric motor uses a magnetic brush system with a fixed transaxle ratio, there is no need for a traditional transmission. In all, the electric drive system weighs less than the gas engine and transmission from the original. The battery pack, however, is heavy. Close to 700 pounds heavy. In all, the Dodge Circuit weighs in at around 2,400 pounds, which is 200 pounds heavier than the standard Elise. 200 pounds may not seem like too much, but that represents a 9% weight increase on a precisely tuned feather-weight racer.
The additional torque more than makes up for the extra weight. Fun fact, the Dodge Circuit has more torque and better acceleration than the company’s Challenger SRT8 muscle car. As far as the handling goes, however, it remains unknown. Dodge, and parent company Chrysler, are currently in the process of going through hearings with the federal government that will decide the automaker’s future. From the standpoint of a sports car enthusiast, one would hope that Dodge makes it through this fiscal turmoil unschathed. The Circuit is such a striking, powerful, and green vehicle, that it would be an incredible shame if it never got beyond the concept stage.
