Jeep to kill ICE, PHEV Wrangler in favour of EV, mild hybrid powertrains in 2028 all-electric push

While Jeep has had the PHEV Wrangler 4xe in its lineup for some time, the car maker has not yet fully delved into the depths of the EV world, like Rivian and Ford have for their off-road-capable vehicles. This, however, appears to be changing as Jeep looks to be converting its iconic Wrangler to electric in the next five years, according to an agreement between the UAW and Stellantis (via Motor1).

According to the agreement, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe will receive a mid-cycle refresh in 2025, initially sticking with the PHEV drivetrain. In 2028, however, Jeep will swap out the Wrangler 4xe PHEV for what Stellantis calls a Range Electric Paradigm Breaker — Stellantis's convoluted name for a range extender or mild hybrid — and a pure EV drivetrain alongside it.

Given that it's so early on in the development process, there are no indications of range, battery capacity, or any other technical details. That said, the Wrangler EV will likely share at least some characteristics with the upcoming RAM REV 1500 electric pickup, given that both brands fall under the Stellantis umbrella and have a history of sharing engines. If the Jeep Wrangler EV is built on an adapted REV 1500 powertrain, we can expect somewhere around a 168-kWh battery and upwards of 600 hp.

The REV 1500's 350-mile range would likely be diminished by the Jeep's off-road focus. Jeep has previously developed a few clever Wrangler Magneto concepts based on a custom axial flux motor that delivers up to 900 lb.-ft of torque and 650 hp, although it's unlikely any of these curious configurations will make it to production.

Buy a Axial RC Truck 1/6 SCX6 Jeep Wrangler 4WD Rock Crawler RTR on Amazon.