ZEO tolerance from Dodge

Dodge is looking to show that environmentally friendliness need not mean dull with its ZEO concept, which made its debut at the North American International Auto Show. The ZEO, which stands for Zero Emissions Operation, is a 2+2 sport wagon that is part of Dodge's ongoing commitment to cleaner cars.

The ZEO uses high power lithium-ion batteries that give the car a range of at least 250 miles. The batteries are mounted low down and between the axles for good weight distribution, and the electric motor drives the rear wheels.

Dodge says the ZEO is good for 0-60mph in less than six seconds thanks to the 200 kilowatt electric motor producing the equivalent of 268bhp, which the company says is good enough to rival some of its famous Hemi V8-powered cars.

Bill Zheng is the chief designer of the ZEO and he says: "The ZEO is designed to break the paradigm of what an electric car should look like. An electric car can be as expressive as any petrol-powered vehicle. The Dodge ZEO concept proves that point."

Alisdair Suttie