Driving the Jeep® Renegade and Compass e-Hybrid

The new e-Hybrid powertrain for Jeep Renegade and Compass is composed of a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine with 96 kW (130 hp) of power and 240 Newton meters of torque, and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with an integrated 48-volt electric motor with 15 kW (20 hp) and 55 Newton meters of torque. The water-cooled 48-volt battery also includes a 48-to-12-volt DC/DC converter. A belt starter-generator provides a conveniently smooth restart of the engine at low speed. The four-cylinder turbocharged engine was designed to be best suited for hybrid operation with optimized thermodynamics to help save fuel. It operates according to the Miller cycle, in which the intake valve, which closes much earlier than in conventional engines, improves thermal efficiency. The mixture is also combusted at a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. Thanks to the e-hybrid drive system, the Renegade and Compass offer a new alternative in the front-wheel-drive hybrid vehicle segment. Unlike most mild hybrids, Renegade and Compass e-Hybrid can also drive purely electrically, for example when parking, maneuvering or in stop-and-go traffic. This means customers can maintain their driving habits, do not need a charging infrastructure and can still drive locally emission-free in many everyday situations, especially in urban areas.