EV Misfire

There was a political push to impose further emissions regulations onto engines that were already tightly controlled, down to mandating gasoline blends with 10% ethanol that aren’t ideal for many powerplants. With the Biden administration’s “zero” emissions push — which I consider a complete disaster — manufacturers accelerated their shift toward EVs even more aggressively. Personally, if you want an EV, go get a Tesla and leave it to companies that specialize in them and have already done the testing.

Stellantis, however, thought it was a great idea to take a classic like the Jeep Wrangler and convert it into an EV off-road rig; I’m not sure what they were thinking with this move. Now many of those electric Wranglers sit on lots, show up on Carvana and other used sites, because demand is weak. From reviews and owner reports, people don’t like them much: problems while off-roading, persistent battery drain, and absolutely don’t try towing anything — the battery will empty faster than a pasta drainer.

I rarely see an EV Wrangler on the Picayune or other Florida trails near me anymore; a few were visible on roads at first, but they’ve dwindled. By contrast, I see more of the 392 versions — wildly priced, yes, but out there — than EV Wranglers. In short, Stellantis seemed intent on sidelining the V6 and V8 Mopar engines that have been honed for decades in favor of EVs that can’t reliably handle long trips without frequent recharging. Apparently, the message got through: they brought the 392 back to the Wrangler lineup, and not just as a one-off.