√Jeep plans remote solar-powered charging stations for electric off-roaders

US car giant Jeep has a bold plan to dot remote parts of the US and Australia with solar-powered charging stations for its emerging range of electric vehicles.

In the same way Tesla built a ‘super-highway’ network of super-chargers for its electric vehicles, Jeep is planning to install solar-powered recharging stations in some of the most remote parts of the US and Australia for its future off-roaders.

Jeep has already installed four of an initial batch of 18 solar-powered recharging stations on popular trails in North America, now the company wants to make sure there is somewhere for battery-powered vehicles to get a top-up in the Australian bush.

The global boss of Jeep, Christian Meunier, told Australian media attending the Detroit motor show last week:

“We’re working on solar-generated charging stations that we will put throughout the trails.

“We will have 18 trails in the US which are ‘badge of honour’ trails, which you get a badge [for] when you make it. You can stick it on your car. And all these trails will be equipped with charging stations.

“I’m pushing the other regions including Australia to do the same. Now that we have all these (electric) products coming in, I’m going to push harder and that’s going to happen.”

The Jeep boss said electric power was ideally suited to hardcore off-road conditions, and some future battery-powered models such as the Recon will be “trail-rated”.

“The trail rating is going to stay and it’s going to be even more stringent,” said Mr Meunier. “We’re going to push the limit of what you can do, and the Recon is going to be trail-rated (at level) six, which (is enough to) make the Rubicon Trail.

“The Wrangler is (trail-rated at level) 10, so the king remains the king for now and forever.

“With electric (power) the Wrangler is unbeatable, you put big tyres on it, a lift kit on it, you’re unbeatable.”

However, it seems a manual transmission version of an electric Jeep Wrangler could be a step too far, even though such a vehicle was previously teased as a concept.

“At the end of the day, (a manual transmission) doesn’t help the capability,” said Mr Meunier. “For capability … the automatic transmission makes more sense.

“You can drive with one pedal, right? You release the throttle, you don’t need to brake. That’s magic.

“Reception has been very, very good (to the idea of a purely-electric Jeep Wrangler). People have realised that electric mixed with (four-wheel-drive) is magic. It’s the right formula.”

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