I read an interesting article about E-85 production---Sugars and Starches go largely undigested in farm animals...

If we as a country developed an infrastructure to remove starches and sugars from our current animal feed-stock, and convert them to Ethanol BEFORE they are fed to the animals, we could provide ALL of our domestic fuel needs from Ethanol and STILL feed the animals the de-starched feed leftover, which is healthier for them and makes for better milk and meat.

Furthermore, the author stated that this could be done for less than the current economic bailout, and that includes E-85 gas stations.

I agree with the article, Chrysler needs to become JEEP, Inc.

But a name change is not enough...Here's what I think needs to be done.

1. Trim (Expand) the line to the following.
Jeep Wrangler 2 door
Wrangler 4 door Unlimited
Wrangler JT Pickup. 2 seat Pickup/5 seat Scrambler
Gladiator Pickup (RAM) 5 seat extended cab Pickup
Patriot
Liberty (Rename it Cherokee)

2. Drop the Compass in favor of a WILLYS-type convertible 4 cyl 4x4 or Butch it up enough to compete with other cars like it (Subaru WRX, Mitsu EVO)

3. All vehicles must have a Start-Stop Hybrid system (at minimum), all V-6 and V-8 engines must have Cylinder De-Activation, all gas engines must be E-85 compatible. All Diesel engines must be B-100 (100% Biodiesel) compatible.

4 The Wrangler EV must be built, as a start.

5. An all-electric Halo car must be built, i.e. Dodge EV concept car.

6. A concerted and accelerated effort needs to be made to move the entire fleet to plug-in hybrid powertrains, wheel-in-hub drivetrains, and eventually Reformer fuel cell powertrains (See #7)

7.Eventually, the engine and transmission needs to be eliminated, I know it sounds crazy, but with the instability of the Oil industry, we as a country will need to replace the projected 8% per year decreased oil production with another power source.

In my opinion, Jeep needs to lead the industry with replacing the engine with the Reformer Fuel Cell, which will reform any combustible fuel into Hydrogen, to be converted into electric power in a Fuel Cell.

The Jeep of the future, much like the Wrangler EV, will have a battery pack, but smaller than the EV concept. In it's place, in addition to the standard fuel tank, will be a small Hydrogen storage tank, which is in effect a one-way battery. That will allow the driver to generate Hydrogen at home, fill the tank, and drive the car using hydrogen power before burning Ethanol, or Gasoline.

The powertrain will be in-wheel hub motors, plain and simple...no gearing, no u-joints, no splines, no pumpkins...If a motor fails, there are three more to get you home, and the dealer will save time and expenses fulfilling the warranty by simply changing a motor, a little more involved than a tire change.

It is hard to get excited about the Wrangler EV considering Chrysler might not last the year and file bankruptcy. The EV with a small CRD would be ultimate. Hell if the put a Hemi in a Wrangler I would be ecstatic! My wife said we can buy one once they are available but it is for her.

I would buy one.

I resisted commenting on this, because I know it's a volatile subject. New school vs. old school type deal... but a full 2 minutes later, I just can't contain myself.

Let's assume this superwhompadyne EV will cost (only) $40K. Am I the only one who wouldn't get out of the electric chair to write a check for this contraption?!

[P.S. Remember --for just a tad over $40Gs-- OK, maybe closer to $50Gs-- you could've had a V8! --A RELIABLE 5.7L 390HP HEMI JK!]