Stellantis, the parent company of the Jeep and Dodge brands, appears to be making a sudden U-turn on its electric vehicle (EV) plans. A new report making waves in the industry claims that the Charger Daytona SRT Banshee EV project, an electric model expected to outperform even Dodge’s legendary SRT Hellcat, has been put on hold. Here are the details.
Why is the Charger Daytona Banshee EV significant?
When Dodge unveiled the Charger Daytona SRT Concept in 2022, it claimed it would redefine what electric vehicles could mean by “pushing aside the boring BEV paradigm.” The Daytona Banshee would be the culmination of this vision.
While current Dodge Charger EV models run on a 400V architecture and reach 670 horsepower, the SRT Banshee was planned to feature an 800V architecture. Stellantis stated that the Banshee’s performance would surpass the brand’s renowned SRT Hellcat engine. While official specifications haven’t been confirmed, Dodge’s halo EV was expected to produce at least 1,000 horsepower.
However, according to a new report from Mopar Insiders, the most powerful electric Charger model could be the latest victim of Stellantis’s strategy to return to gasoline engines. While Dodge declined to comment on the claim, this move is believed to be part of a broader strategic shift at Stellantis. The company is shifting its focus from all-electric vehicles (BEVs) to “electric” options like internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs) and hybrids or range-extender electric vehicles (REEVs).
Concrete examples of this shift are also evident in other Stellantis brands. The company has canceled plans to launch its all-electric pickup truck, the Ram 1500 REV, and will instead introduce the Ramcharger REEV (range-extender electric). Ram and Jeep are bringing back the HEMI engine in the Ram 1500 and Wrangler Rubicon 392.
Previously, the Charger Daytona R/T was dropped for the 2026 model year, leaving only the higher-performance Scat Pack model. Now, with the Banshee’s suspension, it’s thought the Charger may be returning to a V8 engine.
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