SHORTLY after the discontinuation of the most significant EV adoption incentives, it appears one brand’s highly anticipated all-electric model is set to be scrapped.
Although the manufacturer has yet to officially announce it, inside sources have essentially confirmed the EV’s eventual fate.
The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee could’ve broken new ground for American EV production[/caption]
The SRT Banshee was originally set to go on sale earlier this year[/caption]
It appears that the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee is being killed off before its life even truly began.
Once thought to be the eventual halo car for Dodge’s electric approach, the Banshee is now dead on arrival “according to internal whispers from supplier channels,” per Mopar Insiders.
The unique systems needed by the all-electric muscle car are apparently no longer being developed, hence how insiders had this info.
The publication reached out to Dodge regarding these rumors, with the automaker giving a response that neither confirmed nor denied the report.
“Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy to align with consumer demand,” it said before going into the news of its Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division’s return.
“It follows that we are also reviewing the plan for future SRT vehicles,” it concluded in what seems to be commentary on the Banshee’s future.
Combined with the rumors from internal suppliers, it seems likely that Stellantis is killing the project as it moves further and further away from its previous EV emphasis.
The Banshee had the potential to be the most powerful Charger ever thanks to a tri-motor powertrain and 800-volt electrical system which was expected to produce at least 800 horsepower.
The current highest horsepower Chargers ever made by Dodge are the SRT Jailbreak editions from 2022 onward, topping out at 807 horsepower.
The Banshee would’ve also featured DC fast charging on an 800-volt electrical system, a more technologically advanced configuration than the Daytona Scat Pack’s 400-volt setup that would’ve future-proofed it.
With the Banshee’s unofficial, but certain, demise, the most powerful Daytona in Dodge’s future lineup will likely be the currently available Scat Pack variant and its 670 hp from two electric motors.
The Scat Pack is also the only EV currently offered by Dodge, something that is unlikely to change given that the planned electric Ram pickup truck has been officially canceled.
At the time, the company said it was reassessing its product strategy due to slowing demand for full-size battery-electric trucks, a major red flag for its overall electric approach.
Stellantis did not immediately return The U.S. Sun’s request for comment on the Daytona’s future and that of its general electric fleet plans.
Electric vehicles vs gas
Pros and cons of EVs vs gasoline-powered vehicles
EV PROS:
- Convenient (when charging at home)
- Cheaper (depending on state or city)
- Cheaper maintenance, due to lack of mechanical parts
- Great for commuting
- Reduced CO2 emissions
- Federal and state tax incentives
- More performance (speed, handling – depending on the make and model)
EV CONS:
- Higher initial cost
- Higher insurance rates
- More frequent tire and brake replacement intervals
- Higher curb weight (thus causing more rapid wear on crucial parts)
- Low resale value
- High depreciation rates
- Lack of charging infrastructure
- Unreliable public charging (related: slow charging times)
- Poor winter and summer performance
- Lack of clean energy alternatives means more “dirty energy” from coal and nuclear sources
- Range anxiety
GAS PROS:
- Highly developed refueling infrastructure
- Fast refueling
- Cheaper insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
- Established repair industry
- Lower initial cost
- Higher range before refueling, especially with hybrids
- Many manufacturers produce nearly emission-less engines
- Cheaper refueling, depending on the location
GAS CONS:
- Finite resource (related: heavy dependence on petroleum)
- Carbon emissions/greenhouse gases
- Higher repair costs
- Higher insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
- Varying costs at the pump, depending on state, city, and county
Source: Car & Driver, Perch Energy, AutoWeek
Further supporting the idea that Stellantis is changing course on its electric philosophy its recent moves which have all but fully reversed its previously proclaimed plans.
The anything-but environmentally friendly HEMI V8 engine’s revival is the most significant of them, with several manufacturers under the Stellantis umbrella having already announced its availability in upcoming vehicles.
The cancellation of the Jeep Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) similarly signifies that the all-electric ambitions Stellantis previously held have all but gone away.
EV INCENTIVES GOING AWAY
Coinciding with these latest rumors is the end of major EV adoption incentives, such as the $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases being killed off by President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Trump administration is also letting the Clean Air Vehicle Decal programs in multiple states expire. While these are largely state-run, they require federal authorization to remain active.
These programs offered multiple meaningful incentives for EV adoption, such as special high-occupancy vehicle privileges and free parking in major US cities.
