Jeep Wants to Be the Greenest SUV Brand in the World
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Jeeps
have been an American staple for 80 years. From their humble beginnings as troop transporters in World War II to their current status as rugged four-wheelers, they’ve maintained their reputation as the SUV that can "go anywhere" and "do anything."But the auto industry moves fast—especially in today’s market. Another automaker announces its
powertrain transition plans
almost daily. Well-established brands will not be able to rely on their history alone for long.To keep up, Jeep announced its electrification plans in July as part of its birthday celebrations. Beyond the plug-in hybrid models already set to launch, Jeep’s president Christian Meunier said the company’s ultimate goal is to become "the
greenest SUV
brand in the world."
Details on Jeep’s EV roadmap
Despite the company’s American roots, Jeep’s electrification strategy reaches across the globe. Plug-in hybrid variants of its Renegade and Compass lines are already available in Europe, with a plug-in Commander launched in China as well.
At home, Jeep released the plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4XE in early 2021, and battery-powered Renegades, Compasses, and Cherokees will be available here by the end of the year. By 2022,
Car and Driver
says the automaker plans to have an electrified version of every model in its lineup.No specifics yet on a fully EV Jeep, but
Green Car Reports
says the company expects to release at least five of them by 2025. The first one, Motor Authority
reports, will arrive in 2023 and will likely be even smaller than the subcompact Renegade.MORE: The Jeep Wrangler Ranks Amazing in 2 of the Categories that Matter Most
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Jeep’s competition in the all-terrain EV market
To be the greenest SUV maker in the world, Jeep needs to overcome a lot of rivals. While the current pool of E-SUVs might still be relatively shallow, several auto brands are ahead of Jeep in the transition to electric powertrains.
European luxury brands like Audi, BMW, Porsche, and Volvo already have fully EV SUVs in their lineups.
In the U.S., Ford turned their Mustang into an AWD electric SUV, Chevy released a subcompact SUV version of their EV, the Chevy Bolt EUV, and GMC will launch the anticipated Hummer EV later this year.
EV-only brands are also getting into the 4x4 category. Tesla’s Y Model leads the segment in sales, and Car and Driver says startups like Bollinger, Fisker, and Rivian are all set to launch their first models within the next year or so.
Is it cost-effective to switch to an electric car?
All the energy and excitement around electric powertrains might have you considering the transition for yourself. Minimizing your carbon footprint might be a strong motivator, but can you afford the switch?
The answer is likely "yes." Plug-in hybrids and EVs are getting more affordable every year. Brands like Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, and Chevy already offer electrified vehicles starting around $30,000, and other automakers have promised lower prices in the years to come.
Once you have an EV in the garage, access to government subsidies and
car insurance
discounts help keep the cost of ownership down, and maintaining and charging your EV is much cheaper than fixing and filling up gas-powered vehicles.If you’re shopping for car insurance for your new EV,
Jerry
will generate competitive quotes from top providers in less than a minute. Jerry gathers your information from your past insurer, so you’re not responsible for any long forms or phone calls. Basically, you get all of the savings and coverage, with none of the hassle.
