The era of muscle cars may be coming to an end as automakers transition to electrification. While electrification is more accepted in everyday cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs, sports car and muscle car enthusiasts are less keen on the idea of abandoning fuel and exhaust for electric power. However, Dodge has unveiled the Charger EV Concept, giving us a glimpse of what the future of electric muscle cars could look like. Let’s explore everything we know about this groundbreaking vehicle.
Dodge has not released many details about the production version of the Charger electric muscle car. So far, we have only seen production-ready concepts and vague promises. However, when Dodge revealed the Charger Daytona SRT Concept Stryker Red, it shared some information about its plans for electrified performance.
The Charger EV will be available in two trim classes: Charger 340 and Charger 440. The base Charger EV will have 455 horsepower, and additional horsepower can be added through over-the-air updates with “eStage kits.” Dodge will provide a “DC Crystal Key” and fender badges to authenticate and unlock the power upgrade. With these upgrades, the base Charger 340 can be upgraded to produce 495 or 535 horsepower. Similarly, the Charger 440 can be upgraded to 630 or 670 horsepower. There is also a high-performance model called the Charger Daytona SRT Banshee, which will run on an 800-volt architecture and could potentially have 707 horsepower or more.
The 2024 Dodge Charger EV will be built on Stellantis’ new STLA platform, specifically the STLA Large version. This platform supports battery sizes ranging from 101-118 kWh, potentially enabling a range of up to 500 miles with the right weight optimization and battery configuration. While it may not be the longest-range EV on the market, even 450 miles per charge would be impressive. Additionally, the Charger EV will offer fast charging rates of up to 20 miles per minute.
To address the concerns of V-8 enthusiasts, Dodge will incorporate sound synthesizing technology into the Charger EV. The Fratzzonic Chambered Exhaust System will emit a roar similar to that of a Hemi V-8, providing a more traditional driving experience for enthusiasts transitioning to electric cars.
As of now, there is no official information on pricing or availability for the Charger EV. However, considering the potential demand for high-performance models like the Banshee, pricing is expected to be higher, starting around $50,000 or $60,000 for the Charger 340 EV and potentially reaching closer to $100,000 for the Banshee.