Chrysler Testing Plug-In Hybrid Minivans
Prototypes expected to become reality within 2-3 years.
By Clifford Atiyeh Apr 13, 2012 12:40PM
Following the cords of its plug-in Ram Hybrid prototypes, Chrysler has launched a test fleet of 25 plug-in hybrid Town & Country minivans that should make production -- at least in some form in the company's lineup -- within two to three years. The vans feature a 12.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery paired with the company's 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine. Together, they make an SRT-worthy 290 horsepower, which could make this Town & Country the fastest factory minivan on record. The 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger, double the size of the one in the Nissan Leaf, allows the van to recharge in just two to four hours at 220 volts, or eight to 15 hours on a 110-volt plug, according to Chrysler. Total electric range is an estimated 22 miles in city driving, with a total range of 700 miles.
The city of Auburn Hills, Mich., will receive four of the vans. Others slated to receive the vans: Michigan utility DTE Energy; North Carolina utility Duke Energy; the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago; Yuma, Ariz.; and Sacramento, Calif. Chrysler expects to collect data from nearly 17,000 miles of driving, per van, through June 2014. The project is funded in part by a $10 million grant from the Energy Department.
Chrysler first showed a plug-in hybrid Town & Country, along with a plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler, in 2008. The automaker also proposed, but never built, a fleet of all-electric Town & Country models for the U.S. Postal Service.
(Note: based on erroneous information from Chrysler, the original version of this post quoted the prototype minivans as featuring 390 horsepower; this information was later corrected to quote the appropriate figure of 290 horsepower.)
[Source: Chrysler]
13Comments
Apr 16, 2012 2:41AM
Apr 28, 2012 5:30PM
I have driven the Dodge Grand Caravan or a Chrysler Town & Country since 2000. Absolutely no repair was made on any of them. The great gas mileage, comfort, visibility, storage and passenger space are reasons why I will continue to drive these vehicles for years to come. I presently drive a 2010 Town & Country. Hopefully, the next one will be the hybrid. Best of luck to Chrysler!
Apr 28, 2012 2:26PM
with all the arguments about gasw and the per mile stuff. I still drive my pickup that gets 18 mph on the hgigh way and I am happoy about it. I do not make big bucks but I get to where I want to go and no wory comfortably. Parden me but I will look at electric when It proves itself and gets 20 mile pere what ever. until then I will still buy the gas and love it. I simply do not worry about a electric wagon.,
Apr 28, 2012 7:06PM
Apr 15, 2012 9:03PM
post a commentApr 29, 2012 12:31AM
Sorry, Ford, G.M. and Chrysler are the reason I own Honda and Toyota now. For those of you who claim to have owned them without any trouble, how many miles are you putting on them a year? My family all own G.M.,Fords and Chrysler's and I cannot begin to tell you how much money they spend every year fixing them. Why they keep buying that crap is beyond me. I don't regularly see any mid 90's models from any of the Big 3 on the road anymore, but plenty of mid 80's and 90's Honda's and Toyota's still being driven around town.
Apr 28, 2012 4:07PM
Proof that FOX rots the brain. We still have a blogger who thinks the VOLT that caught fire is an epidemic. The one VOLT that caught fire was one that had been subjected to a factory test collision and it was weeks after the test before it did blow up, still on the testbed. None of the VOLTS sold to the public have had any explosions. NOT ONE! And the Chevy Volt has been named the European Car Of The Year. Therefore, if you are a Republican because you believe the lies that Hannity on CNN, all of them on FOX, or all of the Republican PAC propaganda proclamations, you are drinking out of the alternate universe bubble that does not exist. Yet you quote them anyway. I am sorry for you. To me, you do not exist. You are from Uranus.
Apr 29, 2012 2:52PM
Genxjapan you are a complete moron .Last year I sold my 1997 F150 to my neigbor, it had 280,000 miles he is still driving it everyday. My 2005 F150 has 100,000 miles on it, never any problems. My wifes 2008 Charger has 30,000 and my 2006 Viper has 16,000 miles, Oh and my 1964 GTO has who knows how many miles. Sub-human un-American aholes like you make me sick. Drive your Tokyo Rose junk, I don't care what you do because liberal tree hugging creeps like you are beyond salvation but shut the hell up about my choice of AMERICAN autos. I will continue to support AMERICAN corporations until the day I die and that is none of your punk azz business. After my generation is gone God bless this country with all of you liberal Obama , japan and korean supporters left to run this place. Open your eyes dumass there are more old American cars out their than japanese junk. Have you ever heard of Barret Jackson?
Apr 28, 2012 3:46PM
Chrysler has a consistent track record of year-after-year poor reliability on their cars and especially minivans. One of the local Chrysler dealership certified technician my wife overheard him saying he was surprised by the high frequency people have brought in their new Chrysler minivans for repairs on the air conditioners, even after recent repairs 20000 miles later the "new" air conditioner would break again, costing another $2500 for each repair plus downtime to the owners. His experience with technicians from nearby Honda and Toyota dealerships was that the minivans from Honda and Toyota down times were virtually unheard of except for regular lube and oil change. I wonder what others' experience has been.
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