It’s finally here — a genuine legend, electrified. On Wednesday, March 6, Dodge introduced the all-new 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona, the world’s first and only electric muscle car. Going electric with the crown jewel of American muscle was always going to create a frenzy of opinion, but while the Charger Daytona certainly packs all the bells and whistles provided by the latest technology, it’s true beauty is in the simplicity of its most celebrated features.
Beneath the sleek exterior, high-performance systems (670 horsepower, 0-60 in 3.3 seconds) and jaw-dropping interior lies a crucial element that’s often overlooked: the role of electromechanical switches in enabling the seamless operation of this cutting-edge vehicle.
Let’s start with entering the Charger Daytona, where you can now choose between using a smartphone app, NFC Smart Card or traditional key fob. The card is a slick new option, but the fob is tried, trusted and likely functions using something like E-Switch’s TL6330 Series tactile switch. The TL6330 offers long life (200,000 cycles), IP67 rating and high-temperature performance (operational from -40 to 85°C).
2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Steering Wheel Buttons
Inside the car, there’s a free-standing, wide format 10.25-inch cluster screen, a 12.3-inch touch display in the center and immersive interior lighting with 64 colors of adjustable intensity that react to events like pressing the ignition button and opening the door. However, the two most important features for drivers are two simple analogue buttons on the steering wheel (which is looking particularly mean with a flat top and bottom).
Within thumb’s reach, you’ll see the “PowerShot” button on the lower right and “Drive Mode” selector on the left. Hitting the “PowerShot” gives you the thrill of an incremental 40 horsepower for 15 seconds. The Drive Mode allows you to determine the car’s personality with the push of a button. There are eight to choose from: Auto, Eco, Sport, Wet/Snow, Track, Drag, Donut and Drift Modes. And yes, the Donut Mode enables the vehicle to spin only the rear wheels and to rotate around either of the front wheels without intervention from the traction control system.
Despite all the gadgetry, Dodge emphasized a one-of-a-kind one-button experience to easily get the most out of the car’s new features. This design simplicity calls for intuitive, user-friendly components, and E-Switch has a number of dependable, long life tactile switches that can perform common functions in electric vehicles while operating in a wide temperature range.
For example, the TL3365 Series is an ultra miniature (4.2mm x 3.2mm), surface mountable tact switch with a life expectancy of 100,000 cycles and three different operating force options.
If you need a right angle, surface mountable switch, then our TL6340 Series is perfect with an IP67 rating and footprint of just 2.90mm x 3.85mm x 2.00mm — the actuator is only 0.8mm off the PCB surface.
There’s also an all-new “pistol-grip” shifter, wireless phone charger and start/power button close together on the center console of the Charger Daytona.
At E-Switch, our PV4 Series illuminated, long life, sealed anti-vandal switch is frequently used as an on/off button for its advanced security features.
The all-electric, all-wheel-drive Dodge Charger Daytona models are driven by a 400V propulsion system that delivers supercharged V-8 performance with zero tailpipe emissions and instant torque response. The system incorporates a high-voltage battery pack, a dual integrated charge module and both a front and rear electric drive module (EDM). The front EDM employs front wheel end disconnect, improving range and efficiency, while the rear EDM includes a mechanical limited slip differential to increase traction and performance. Production of the vehicle begins mid-2024.