Hybrid Car Brands

Just who is making hybrid cars these days and what brands are considering making hybrid cars in the future?

Major Hybrid Car Brands
Hybrid cars are currently being built and sold by General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota and Nissan. General Motors builds hybrid cars under several divisions including Saturn, Chevrolet, and GMC.  Ford has the Mercury and Ford divisions.  Toyota sells hybrids under the brand name of Lexus .  While Honda and Nissan just sell hybrids under their own name plates.

Toyota
Under the Toyota brand name, there are three models currently on sale. The iconic Prius is almost synonymous with hybrid and is the first car most people think of when they think of hybrids. Toyota also sells the Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid under the moniker of Toyota.

Toyota also has their luxury division, the Lexus hybrids. Under the Lexus brand name, Toyota sells the HS, LS, RX, and GS Hybrids. They keep adding models under the Lexus nameplate, so expect and IS hybrid to arrive soon. The HS hybrid is a dedicated model like the Prius. The others are subtypes under the model. In other words, you can buy gas-only models, or you can opt for the hybrid engine.

Honda
Honda sells the Civic Hybrid under their brand name. They also currently sell the only other dedicated hybrid on the road, the Insight. They used to sell a Hybrid Accord, and the two-seater hybrid Insight, but have retired both models.

Expect to see Acura Hybrids in the future.

Nissan
Nissan has only one hybrid model for sale, the Nissan Altima Hybrid. It is built using hybrid technology from Toyota and is sold in only eight US states. Nissan has plans to bring an Infiniti M35 Hybrid to market in the coming year.

General Motors (Cadillac, Chevy, Saturn, GMC)
They build several models (currently) using the Chevrolet brand. There is the Chevy Malibu and Chevy Silverado. The Chevy Volt, the Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV), will be out soon and while GM considers the Volt to be a subtype of electric vehicle, it still falls under the hybrid type.

GM also builds the GMC Yukon and Sierra. And the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid also falls under the GM brand.

The Saturn brand was at one point, the cornerstone for hybrids under the GM umbrella. But Saturn is no more. You can still see the hybrid Vue and Aura on the road today.

Ford
Ford sells four different models under two different brand names. The Mercury Division sells the Milan and Mariner Hybrid. While Ford retains the Fusion and Escape Hybrid. The Lincoln division will have its own hybrid soon, but it's not here yet. The Mercury hybrids are the upgraded version of the Ford Hybrids, so expect them to be very similar if you take a look at both of them.

Chrysler
Chrysler sold the Aspen and Durango Hybrids for a total of two months before pulling the plug on both models. The Dodge Durango is very similar to the Chrysler Aspen, and both were built using the dual hybrid technology developed in partnership with BMW and GM.

Chrysler at one point had plans to bring a Dodge Ram Hybrid to market, but that seems to be on hold.

Hyundai
Hyundai is jumping in with both feet in the next year, with the Sonata Hybrid. Distinguishing itself from the other hybrids listed above, it's going to be one of the first hybrids to use lithium polymer battery packs, giving it an advantage over some of the more established hybrid models and brands listed above.

Mazda
Mazda has sold the Tribute hybrid in very limited numbers.  The Tribute was built using Ford Hybrid technology, when Mazda and Ford were a lot tighter than they are today.  Now Mazda is looking to partner with Toyota for the technology used in the Prius for their future hybrid model in 2013.

Fisker and Tesla
Fisker and Tesla are both bringing hybrid cars to market (they probably don't appreciate being lumped together given the lawsuits over the past few years). These startups are working hard to go straight to electric or hybrid and are emphasizing performance, rather than fuel efficiency right from the get go.

Audi, Subaru, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, Ferrari, Lotus, Kia, Maserati, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen and Volvo
Each of the brands mentioned above are attempting their own hybrid models, and several have brought some noteworthy test models to auto shows. Several are on their way to bringing those cars to market right now, but are still a few years away from seeing them on the road in more than just 'test fleets'. Some are closer than others, while some probably have no intention of ever going hybrid unless they are forced to do so by the tighter restrictions being enforced in Europe, Asia and the US in the coming years.

Looking for more information on one of the brands above?
Either search for the brand name here on this site or use the categories below or on the sidebars.  Each of the major brands listed will have more information that I've accumulated over the years.

No Longer Has a Hemi-Hybrid

Chrysler has ended the Ram Hybrid, before it even really started. Chrysler announced they would be expanding on a plug-in hybrid test for their Ram pickup, but would end the program to create a hybrid Ram.

Given their track record, I won't be holding my breath on the plug-in Ram.

Chrysler sold their Hybrid Aspen and Durango for a two months before abandoning their program. The plan was for the two-mode hybrid system, co-developed with BMW and GM, to go into the Dodge Ram later this year. But Chrysler just doesn't see a market for it.

Chrysler also killed off their ENVI division shortly after announcing they would create it and put an all electric vehicle on the road sometime soon.

The Plug-in Electric Hybrid (PHEV) system will be placed into 140 units with a lithium-ion battery pack capable of all electric movement for up to 20 miles. The truck will then turn into a hybrid car, with the gas engine providing most of the power from that point on. The electric motor will assist the gas engine.

Plug-in Hybrid Truck Development - Ram Crew 1500

Chrysler sent $3.1 million to a University of Michigan researcher to help develop a plug-in hybrid pickup truck.

Associate Professor Chris Mi is one of a dozen UofM faculty members working on a $5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission to develop plug-in hybrid vehicles. The research grant involves DTE Energy, General Motors Corporation, and the University of Michigan.

Mi is working on the best way to charge PHEV batteries, in terms of safety and efficiency. The research team is working to develop a battery management system that will ensure all battery cells are charged and discharged evenly to protect the cells from damage, prolong the battery life, and maximize the battery capacity.

At the same time, they are also working to develop fast charging centers, that can recharge a PHEV battery in 10-20 minutes.

The new grant from Chrysler is part of the $48 million grant Chrysler received as part of the stimulus funds. (via chicagotribune.com) Mi's work would help develop a Ram Crew 1500 plug-in hybrid truck, which would make it the only full size plug-in hybrid truck.

Chrysler Ends ENVI Program

As part of the case for creating a bailout for Chrysler, the new ENVI division was set up last year. Chrysler put together three electric prototypes, and promised that one of them would be in production by 2010. They went on to pledge 500,000 electric vehicles by 2013.

Now that the bailout and bankruptcy is over, however, things have changed.

Chrysler, now owned by Fiat, laid out their five year plan, which will increase fuel efficiency based on Fiat expertise. But very little was said about hybrids or electric vehicles. Dodge will get the hybrid Ram, but if it follows the path of the prior Chrysler hybrids (sold for just two months), don't expect too much.

And now the ENVI division has been 'disbanded.'

"Envi is absorbed into the normal vehicle development program," Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa told Reuters.

"Until the (battery) storage gets resolved, I think electric vehicles are going to struggle," Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said.

Cappa confirmed that the ENVI group no longer exists, but is apparently upset at the term 'disbanded,' saying that the group's members all are still working and that former ENVI chief Lou Rhodes is still in charge of vehicle electrification programs - for both Chrysler and Fiat.

Chrysler Will Have a Hybrid Ram in 2010

Chrysler is still planning on introducing a hybrid Dodge Ram in 2010, but a diesel version is now in question.

To be honest, when I thought about Chrysler's hybrid plans, I thought they were basically dropping them. Chrysler had introduced two hybrid SUVs using the two-mode hybrid technology created with GM and BMW. But the hybrids were quickly dropped after just a couple of months. They had also at one point talked about the ENVI project and introducing an electric vehicle, but not a lot has been heard about that, either.

Then with the economy, the bankruptcy, etc... I had guessed, incorrectly it turns out, that Chrysler would just quietly drop the whole project.

Plans for a hybrid Ram roll forward | detnews.com | The Detroit News

There have been no changes to the plans for the hybrid, Scott Kunselman, Chrysler senior vice president of engineering, confirmed in an interview at a recent Ram event here.

The engineering chief went on to cast a lot of doubt on the diesel version of the Ram. This may be surprising since the heavy duty diesel Ram is so popular, but the diesel is very popular with commercial buyers, unlike the light-duty Ram buyers who may not factor in the high resale value.

Chrysler Renegotiates Contract with GM on Dual Mode Hybrid Engine

It seems Chrysler is trying to opt out of paying up their share for developing the dual mode hybrid engine. GM, Chrysler, and BMW partnered to create the dual-mode hybrid engine which is suitable for their SUVs and trucks. Chrysler used the new hybrid engine in the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids, which were subsequently killed off after just two months.

But Chrysler still wants to use the dual-mode hybrid engine in the Dodge Ram 1500 Hybrid next year.

But when they filed for bankruptcy, the company was split into old Chrysler and new Chrysler (Source: GM Looks for Two-Mode Hybrid Payments from Chrysler - PickupTrucks.com News). The new Chrysler was bought by Fiat, but did not bring along many of the old contracts. And the contract with GM for the dual-mode hybrid engine was left behind. Now, Chrysler wants to renegotiate the contract they had with GM.

Chrysler would like to pay just $173,477 to settle the full $531,275 in costs associated with: open receivables, payments for 2008 manufacturing costs, tooling, pre-production transmissions for the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Two-Mode Hybrid SUVs (which were killed after only two months of production), and supply agreements.

American Hybrid Cars

When we talk about American cars, we're usually talking about GM, Ford and Chrysler.  Although the term American-made is getting more blurred by the day, these are the companies I want to discuss today.

The three American companies have had mixed success so far when it comes to hybrid cars.  Ford, one of the first to embrace hybrid technology, has been more successful than the other two.  GM, late to the party by their own admission, is now working frantically to produce any hybrid that will get them some notice.  Chrysler tried and quit on hybrids so quickly you may have missed it.

Ford Hybrids
Ford has five hybrids out right now.  The first three, the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Mazda Tribute Hybrid are the same, just the badging, pricing and extras are changed.  The Hybrid SUV from Ford was the first hybrid SUV on the road, and the first American hybrid to begin production and sales back in 2004.  And it's still the most fuel efficient SUV on the road.

Ford is introducing two new 'American hybrids' this year, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid.  Again, these two cars are the same hybrids, just different badging and extras.

Based on a similar design as Toyota's hybrid technology, the hybrid system from Ford is a full hybrid, which means they can travel on electric power at low speeds and are powered by the gas engine at high speeds.  But, Ford has not made a profit on their hybrid cars up until now.  They took a risk and built up their own hybrid engine, but then took a conservative approach to rolling it out.  So, as Toyota and Honda pushed harder to up their production and sales, Ford has been happy with limiting the number of hybrids they were willing to build each year.

With the introduction of the Fusion and Milan Hybrids, Ford is ready to make a profit, but will still limit their sales to so many per year. 

GM Hybrids
GM chose to ignore the hybrid marketplace, until Toyota, Honda and Ford showed them how popular the idea was.  GM then decided to build up their mild hybrid line-up with the likes of the Chevy Malibu Hybrid, Saturn Vue Hybrid, and Saturn Aura Hybrid.  They also had the short-lived Sierra and Silverado 'hybrids', but each of these has been met with derision by those who are very interested in 'true' hybrids.

The BAS system from GM, while increasign fuel economy a little bit, is a mild hybrid system, incapable of moving the vehicle on electric power alone.  GM uses their electric motor to 'assist' the gas motor in their mild system.  The batteries are smaller, the costs are less, thus the cost to the consumer is less, but the fuel efficiency gain is small.  It's too easy for a consumer to make the comparison to the smaller engine (4-cylinder instead of 6) and say, why should I pay more for this minimal gain?

So, GM worked with BMW and Chrylser to develop a full hybrid system, labeled the dual-mode or 2-mode hybrid engine.  With two modes to increase fuel efficiency at different speeds, GM produced a hybrid engine for larger vehicles.  The new dual-mode hybrid does make a significant difference in fuel economy for their new hybrids SUVs and trucks, namely the GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Silverado, and GMC Sierra.  All of these larger trucks and SUVs get a 25% improvement in fuel economy when a hybrid engine is installed.

So far, however, sales have been lackluster for GM's hybrids.  Consumers who are interested in fuel economy savings are trending towards the cars that give them the most fuel economy, like the Toyota Prius.  True, they can't tow a boat with it, but if their priority was towing a boat, then that implicitly means fuel economy is less important to them.

So now, GM is also working on their Chevy Volt, an extended range electric vehicle (E-REV).  This is being touted as possible competition for the high flying Prius.  Instead of following in the Prius footsteps, GM has decided to leap-frog into the future, by creating this plug-in hybrid.

The Volt hybrid system is basically taking the opposite tact as their mild hybrid system.  Instead of the electric motor being used to 'assist' the gas one, the Volt will use the gas motor to 'assist' or extend the range of the electric motor.  After charging the battery up, you will be able to travel up to 40 miles (or so, depending on your driving conditions) without the gas engine turning on at all.  After that, the gas engine will recharge the battery pack.  The gas engine cannot move the vehicle on its own.  It's completely up to the electric motor.

It remains to be seen if the Volt will change people's minds about American hybrid cars.  It's definitely a risk for GM, but it's playing well in front of politicians and in the media so far.  The real problem is going to be one of cost.  Even with the new tax credits in place ($7,500 for the Volt from the federal government), the car is still going to be twice as expensive as the Prius or new Insight from Honda.

Chrysler Hybrids
Chrysler, whether you knew it or not, was in the hybrid market for two months.  They, along with GM and BMW, spent a lot of money to develop and produce the dual-mode hybrid engine, but then abandoned production of their Aspen and Durango Hybrid SUVs almost before they were built.  The economic crisis forced them to cut costs, and the sales and 'buzz' surrounding their new hybrids just wasn't big enough for them to continue to lose money on the proposition.

American Hybrids
Overall, there are more American hybrid types on the road today, mostly due to GM.  Since they've built up several different types of hybrids, the market has seen just about every type given a try.  But, so far, Ford has been the most successful at bringing hybrids to market.  They've sold more hybrids than GM has, despite only having the one type up until now. 

Building up hybrid technology is an expensive proposition, and so far, each of the American car companies has been willing to pay some of the price to do so.  It's unknown if they've made dime one on the effort, though.  Certainly, Toyota and Honda have managed to move from paying off the hybrid research and into making money off of each hybrid sold.  Ford has stated they will start making money once the Fusion and Milan start selling.  GM and Chrysler haven't sold enough hybrids to make it worth it so far.  And GM is going further into the hole with their Volt system.

Which makes me wonder if Ford was the smart one.  Early to the game and conservative in their approach, they may not have as many types as GM does, but their limited sales approach saved them from either giving up as Chrysler has, or continuing to spend, spend spend on developing other hybrids as GM has. 

American Hybrid Cars v Japanese Hybrid Cars

Right now, all three companies are behind Toyota.  Toyota is the clear hybrid leader, with 3 out of every 4 hybrids sold in the US bearing a Toyota or Lexus badge, and 50% of all hybrid sales are a Prius.  It's not unfair to say where Toyota goes, so goes the hybrids.  And Prius is practically synonymous with hybrid, despite the variety of other choices.

Ford could be said to be 'on par' with Honda, but we'll have to see how the new Insight fairs to be sure.  Honda, like GM, has tried several different approaches to hybrids, but seems to have seen the light with the new Insight.

But put together, it's clear that Honda and Toyota are competing with each other, not with the US companies.  The new Insight is a clear challenger to the Prius, something the American car companies haven't even tried to build.  Instead, Ford's new hybrids are being built to challenge the Toyota Camry and Honda Civic Hybrids.  And GM won't have any real competition until the Volt arrives.

White House Announces 17 Billion Dollar Loans to GM and Chrysler Now Available

The White House announced they would be making up to $17 billion available in loans to the domestic auto makers in order to stave off their bankruptcy. But, in order to qualify for the loans, some new rules and proof of viability.

There must be a two-thirds reduction in debt by exchanging debt for equitey, more flexible work rules and cuts in wages.

According to Bush, the most important rule is the company must become viable, but not necessarily profitable. "this does not mean the firms has to be profitable but clearly to have a positive net present value the firms have to be profitable soon."

Bush noted, "In the midst of a crisis and a recession allowing the US auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action."

The money will come from the $700 billion set aside for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). $13.4 billion will be available immediately, while another $4 billion is contingent upon congressional approval of the second portion of TARP.

Chrysler has already signed a letter of intent. According to LLC chariman and chief executive Bob Nardelli, "These requirements will require consideration from all constituents, requiring commitment first in principal, leading to implementation this coming year," Nardelli said.

"Chrysler is committed to meeting these requirements."

I would expect GM to follow suit given how badly they've pushed for government loans, while Ford has said they don't need the loans right now.

Update: As expected, word out of GM is they will be applying for the loans, too.

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. CEO Rick Wagoner says the automaker has significant work ahead after receiving a federal bailout Friday, but he is confident GM will work with stakeholders to make the company viable.

House Passes Auto Loan Program

The House has passed the bailout program for the Auto Industry (by a vote of 237 to 170) to the tune of $14 billion (what happened to the $15?).  The bill still needs to move on to the Senate, where it still has a significant uphill battle.

Funds for the bailout loans are to come from the $25 billion already appropriated for the fuel efficiency program set up in November.  There are several safety features being built into the bill for the protection of our tax dollars.  They include the creation of an Auto Czar, a super seniority setting for this loan over other loans the car maker takes, the ability for the Auto Czar to reject any deal over $100 million which the Czar decides is detrimental to the sustainability of the company and so on.

The executives are being placed under several restrictions, including (1) no bonuses or incentives to 25 most highly paid employees; (2) stringent prohibition on golden parachutes; and (3) no compensation plan that could encourage manipulation of reported earnings to enhance compensation.  Also, no dividends or distributions can be paid out during the life of the loan, which effects any stock holders.

The loans are being set for 7 years, with a 5% interest during the first five years and a 9% interest after that.  The seven year term can be extended at the discretion of the Auto Czar, and there's no prepayment penalty.

The Auto Czar will become a 20% shareholder in the car companies themselves: "...he receives from the Auto Manufacturer warrants for non-voting common stock or preferred stock equal to 20% of the loan amount. If the Automobile Manufacturer is privately held, as in Chrysler’s case, the government will receive warrants or the economic equivalent of warrants in Chrysler’s holding company or in Cerberus, the company that controls a majority stake in Chrysler."

You can read the summary of H.R. 7321 below.  You can read the whole bill here.  I'm not a lawyer or a banker, so don't ask me if it makes any sense. I personally found the clause making the companies sell their planes laughable, but that's just me. 

Summary of H.R. 7321 (Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act)
(12/10/08)
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President’s Designee – The President shall designate 1 or more officers in the Executive Branch with appropriate expertise (President’s Designee) to carry out the requirements of the Act. The President or the President’s Designee also may employ, appoint or contract with additional advisors.
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Bridge Financing

Directs the President’s Designee to authorize and direct the disbursement of bridge loans or commitments for lines of credit to eligible auto manufacturers that submitted a plan to Congress on 12/2/08 (Chrysler, Ford, and GM) (Auto Manufacturers) from funds previously appropriated for Section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act.

Approximately $14 billion will be disbursed or committed for bridge financing.

No new funds will be available for bridge financing after the President’s Designee approves the Auto Manufacturer’s restructuring plan.
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Assessment of Restructuring Progress – The President’s Designee must establish, not later than 1/1/09, appropriate measures to assess the progress of each Auto Manufacturer in developing a restructuring plan; and must evaluate the progress of each Auto Manufacturer against those measures in 45 days.
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Restructuring Plan

Not later than 3/31/09, each Auto Manufacturer must submit to the President’s Designee a restructuring plan to achieve long-term viability, international competitiveness and energy efficiency, including repayment of government financing, compliance with applicable fuel efficiency and emissions requirements, achievement of positive net present value, rationalization of costs and capacity, and proposals for restructuring existing debt. The President’s Designee may provide financial assistance to an Auto Manufacturer to implement an approved restructuring plan.

The President’s Designee will facilitate agreement on a restructuring plan by the representatives of major stakeholders of each Auto Manufacturer.

If the President’s Designee determines that adequate progress is not being made to reach agreement on a restructuring plan, the President’s Designee will submit to Congress his own plan to achieve long-term viability for the Automobile Manufacturer.
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Taxpayer Protections

Warrants: The President’s Designee may not provide any loan to an Automobile Manufacturer unless he receives from the Auto Manufacturer warrants for non-voting common stock or preferred stock equal to 20% of the loan amount. If the Automobile Manufacturer is privately held, as in Chrysler’s case, the government will receive warrants or the economic equivalent of warrants in Chrysler’s holding company or in Cerberus, the company that controls a majority stake in Chrysler.


Executive Compensation: All executive compensation restrictions of TARP apply to Auto Manufacturers receiving financial assistance for the duration of that assistance, plus: (1) no bonuses or incentives to 25 most highly paid employees; (2) stringent prohibition on golden parachutes; and (3) no compensation plan that could encourage manipulation of reported earnings to enhance compensation.

Dividends: Auto Manufacturers receiving financial assistance (including any holding company in case of Chrysler) generally may not pay dividends, distributions, or their economic equivalent for duration of the assistance.

Super Seniority: All other obligations of any Auto Manufacturer receiving loans (or in the case of Chrysler, Chrysler’s holding company or Cerberus) will be subordinate to those loans to the extent permitted by the terms of such obligations in effect as of 12/2/08. Auto Manufacturer will pledge all available security and collateral against the loans.

Discharge: In the event of a bankruptcy of an Automobile Manufacturer, the debts to the government from the financial assistance will not be dischargeable.

Aircraft: An Auto Manufacturer must divest and may not own or lease any private passenger aircraft while financial assistance is outstanding. 1
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Loans Called for Failure to Achieve Approved Plan – If an Automobile Manufacturer fails to submit a restructuring plan that can be approved by the President’s Designee within the time provided by the Act, the loan will be called in 30 days, unless a restructuring plan is approved within that period.
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Oversight – Provisions similar to GAO and Special IG oversight provisions of TARP apply, plus explicit grant to GAO of access to Auto Manufacturers’ records (including records of any subsidiary, affiliate, or majority stakeholder in case of Chrysler/Cerberus). Extensive reporting requirements from GAO, Special IG, and President’s Designee to Congress.
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Allocation of Funds – The President’s Designee will prioritize allocation of financial assistance to Auto Manufacturers as follows:

For bridge loans, based in order on (1) necessity of the financial assistance, (2) potential impact of failure of the Auto Manufacturer on the U.S. economy, and (3) ability to utilize the financial assistance optimally.

For any long-term financial assistance, based in order on (1) ability to utilize the financial assistance optimally, (2) potential impact of failure of the Auto Manufacturer on the U.S. economy, and (3) necessity of the financial assistance.
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Terms and Conditions of Loans

Term: 7 years (or longer as may be determined by the President’s Designee).

Interest Rate: 5% for first 5 years and 9% thereafter.

No prepayment penalty.

Full Information Access: Automobile Manufacturers (including the majority stakeholder in case of Chrysler/Cerberus) receiving loans are required to provide the President’s Designee access to all information that may be relevant to monitor the interests of the government.

Oversight of Transactions and Financial Condition: For duration of the loan, the President’s Designee may review and prohibit any asset sale, investment, contract, or commitment proposed to be entered into by the Auto Manufacturer valued in excess of $100 million if inconsistent with or detrimental to long-term viability.

Consequences for Failure to Comply: The President’s Designee may accelerate repayment of a loan or cancel other financial assistance of an Automobile Manufacturer if (1) the President’s Designee determines that the Automobile Manufacturer has failed to make adequate progress towards developing a restructuring plan, (2) the Automobile Manufacturer fails to submit an acceptable restructuring plan or fails comply with any other applicable condition or requirement of the loan program, or (3) the Automobile Manufacturer fails to make adequate progress in the implementation of an approved restructuring plan.
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Energy Efficient Advanced Technology Vehicles: Reserves $500 million in credit subsidy equal to $1.5 billion for Section 136 loans (manufacturing energy efficient advanced technology vehicles), and thorizes additional appropriations to replenish Section 136 funds.
au
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Fuel Efficiency and Emissions Requirements: Restructuring plan will not be approved unless the President’s Designee determines that the plan will result in the ability of the Automobile Manufacturer to comply with applicable fuel efficiency and emissions requirements. In addition, the President’s Designee may accelerate repayment of a loan or cancel other financial assistance if the Automobile Manufacturer fails to comply with applicable fuel efficiency and emissions requirements after 3/31/09.
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Transit: Each Automobile Manufacturer will analyze the potential use of excess production capacity to manufacture vehicles (including buses and rail cars) for sale to public transit agencies. Also includes provisions to guarantee leases of qualified public transit agencies.

Dodge Challenger Auction to Benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children

I normally limit all my posts to those regarding hybrid cars, but an auction on a Dodge Challenger to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children is worth the attention I can give it.

Boston, MA - An iconic muscle car of the 1970s, the Dodge Challenger, is back after a 35-year absence and a limited-edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is up for auction on eBay through Sunday, Dec. 7. Proceeds of the online auction will benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The New England Dodge Dealers Association donated the car because the group wants to raise awareness and funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children. "The decision to donate the Challenger SRT8 was based on the positive personal experiences many of our dealers and the association's Board members have had with the Shriners and Shriners Hospitals," said New England Dodge Dealer Association President Frank Brody. "Shriners Hospitals for Children is truly a benevolent organization that has proven they really want to make a difference for children."

The Dodge Challenger SRT8, which is #234 of the 6,400 produced in 2008, goes zero to 60 in five seconds and is loaded with options, including a 6.1 liter HEMI® V-8 engine with 425 horsepower, GPS navigation system, Keyless Go Entry, MyGIG multimedia system and UConnect hands-free communication.

This car is on display at the New England International Auto Show at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, located at 415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 from Wednesday, Dec. 3 to Sunday, Dec. 7. The winning bid will be announced at the show on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.

For a link to the auction site, go to www.BeAChallenger.com.

For more information on the New England International Auto Show please visit http://www.paragonexpo.com/189.html?flash=1.

Loans and More Loans... Please Do Not Use the Word Bailout

It seems like some are confused by all the $Billions$ being bandied about by Congress lately. Several months ago, Congress approved a $25 billion loan program to re-tool or build facilities capable of making cars which are 25% more fuel efficient than the cars being built in MY2005. Suppliers can also apply for the loan. GM, Chrysler, and even smaller car companies like Tesla have already applied for the loans through the DOE program.

Tesla applied for a $400 million loan (very frugal of them!), while GM and Chrysler did not disclose how much they want (found via TechCrunch). Ford plans on applying (or has already done so) by yesterday.

But that loan program has its drawbacks.  Specifically, the amount of time needed until the program actually gives out the money (up to a year). Which is why Detroit is pushing for a completely separate loan program from Congress during the current session. What they want now is access to the $700 billion set aside for the banking industry, or the set up of a whole new loan program. A program that would give them access to cash now.

For instance, the current bill sets up a $25 billion loan program with "initial interest rates of 5 percent to the U.S. automakers and suppliers in exchange for a federal stake in the companies or warrants that would let the government profit from future gains."

That would bring the loans available from the government up to $50 billion for the car companies.

And GM, especially, really, really wants the second program. But given the rhetoric from the Senate, they need to push back on some of the 'myths' they believe are prevalent throughout the US about the auto industry (Link- Detroit Free Press). They are pushing to build popular opinion through their blog and through e-mails to their customers. First a description of GM from GM's blog:

* A leaner company that has reduced its annual structural costs in North American by 23 percent, or $9 billion, since 2005, and are on track to reduce them by about 35 percent, or $14-$15 billion, by 2010. We also negotiated a landmark labor agreement with the UAW last year that will enable us to virtually erase the competitive gap we’ve had with foreign automakers.
* Award-winning products in the Chevy Malibu and Cadillac CTS, (Motor Trend magazine’s 2008 Car of the Year). The Chevy Malibu beats the Toyota Camry in highway mileage, and was recently ranked the highest in initial quality in the midsize car segment by J.D. Power & Associates.

In fact, 13 of our last 15 new product launches in the U.S. were cars or crossovers, and 18 of our next 19 new products will be, as well. Mr. Friedman, we also think you’ll be particularly interested in the huge progress we are making to develop a broad range of advanced propulsion technologies.

* For 2009, GM will offer 20 models in the U.S. that get 30 miles per gallon or better on the highway –twice our nearest competitor.
* We now sell six hybrid vehicles, with three more on the way by the middle of next year.
* We have more than three million flex-fuel vehicles on the road in the U.S., which are capable of running on bio-fuels like ethanol and we are committed to making 50 percent of our annual production flex-fuel capable by 2012.
* We’ve established the world’s largest fuel-cell test fleet by placing more than 100 Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles in the hands of U.S. drivers.
* And perhaps most important, we’re running all-out to get the Chevy Volt extended range electric vehicle to market as soon as possible. When running off its battery, the Volt will be able to drive up to 40 miles–more than the average daily commute for over three-quarters of Americans–without using a drop of gas.

And from the e-mail sent out to GM owners:

You made the right choice when you put your confidence in General Motors, and we appreciate your past support. I want to assure you that we are making our best vehicles ever, and we have exciting plans for the future. But we need your help now. Simply put, we need you to join us to let Congress know that a bridge loan to help U.S. automakers also helps strengthen the U.S. economy and preserve millions of American jobs.

Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan that will be repaid.

The U.S. economy is at a crossroads due to the worldwide credit crisis, and all Americans are feeling the effects of the worst economic downturn in 75 years. Despite our successful efforts to restructure, reduce costs and enhance liquidity, U.S. auto sales rely on access to credit, which is all but frozen through traditional channels.

The consequences of the domestic auto industry collapsing would far exceed the $25 billion loan needed to bridge the current crisis. According to a recent study by the Center for Automotive Research:

• One in 10 American jobs depends on U.S. automakers
• Nearly 3 million jobs are at immediate risk
• U.S. personal income could be reduced by $150 billion
• The tax revenue lost over 3 years would be more than $156 billion

Discussions are now underway in Washington, D.C., concerning loans to support U.S. carmakers. I am asking for your support in this vital effort by contacting your state representatives.

Please take a few minutes to go to www.gmfactsandfiction.com, where we have made it easy for you to contact your U.S. senators and representatives. Just click on the "I'm a Concerned American" link under the "Mobilize Now" section, and enter your name and ZIP code to send a personalized e-mail stating your support for the U.S. automotive industry.

Let me assure you that General Motors has made dramatic improvements over the last 10 years. In fact, we are leading the industry with award-winning vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, Pontiac G8, GMC Acadia, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Saturn AURA and more. We offer 18 models with an EPA estimated 30 MPG highway or better — more than Toyota or Honda. GM has 6 hybrids in market and 3 more by mid-2009. GM has closed the quality gap with the imports, and today we are putting our best quality vehicles on the road.

Please share this information with friends and family using the link on the site.

Thank you for helping keep our economy viable.

Sincerely,



Troy Clarke

What do you think.  Have the Big 3 really changed their colors?  Do they 'deserve' the second loan program?  Will they survive through the next six months?

Death and Re-Birth of the Two Mode Hybrid

Even as we get word Chrysler is shutting down the plant that makes the Durango and Aspen, including the two-mode hybrid models, GM has just announced they will be shutting down the plants that build the Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade and Yukon. Again, that includes their hybrid versions.

Hopefully, you weren't one of the few who went out and bought these hybrids, or if you had plans to do so, you might want to think twice about it. Re-sale value for these will tank on these truck based SUVs once the plant closes.

GM Vice-President Lutz had this to say, "It would have been very difficult in today's environment to spend a couple of billion dollars to do a replacement." Or, as Edmunds correspondent put it, "Look for the classic truck-based sport-utility vehicle to completely vanish from the American landscape over the next 24 to 36 months. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent."

But this does not spell the end of the two-mode hybrid, although it will likely go on hiatus. The Saturn Vue is due to be outfitted with a two-mode hybrid system, plus Chrysler wants you to know about the Ram Hybrid. But given how little support the companies seem to be giving these programs, it'd be a wonder if customers got behind the effort and bought one.

The lone investor in the system we haven't heard from, yet, is BMW. But since they haven't released their own version of the hybrid SUV, what chances that they will after seeing what Chrysler and GM have done?

BMW, Chrysler (when it was DaimlerChrysler) and GM spent a lot of money developing the two-mode hybrid engine. Has it all been for nothing?

Chrysler Accelerates Plant Closure, But What About the Hybrids

Chrysler, in an effort to combat slow sales and the weak economy, is shutting down one shift at a Toledo, Ohio plant (Jeep) and is closing their Newark, Delaware plant early.  That's the plant that builds the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen, as well as the hybrid version of the same.

Autoblog notes these moves will also likely spell the end for the Durango and Aspen SUVs, as Newark is the only plant producing them. Which would spell the end of their hybrid line.

That's a very strange process indeed, given the amount of money spent developing the two-mode hybrid system with GM and BMW. The Aspen and Durango Hybrids just started sales this month.  Chrysler just made a bid deal about three possible EV vehicles.  Can we take any of that seriously at this point given how little time they invested in the two-mode hybrid SUVs?

The Delaware plant had been scheduled to be shut down in late 2009.

The shift reduction at Toledo North will be effective December 31, 2008, and will affect approximately 825 jobs. The closure of the Newark plant will also be effective December 31, 2008, and will affect approximately 1,000 jobs.

Update: Chrysler may not bring back the Aspen and Durango nameplate at all:
"We think there is a strong interest in the market for hybrid technology and we are excited about the Dodge Ram in 2010," Chrysler spokesman Stuart Schorr said. "We had good demand for the hybrid versions; unfortunately demand for those products alone is not enough to sustain the plant."

"The demand for our full-size SUVs has really dropped off this year," Chrysler spokesman Scott Brown told Inside Line. "Even though we got significant orders for the hybrids, it doesn't make sense to keep the plant open for just the hybrids."

And so, after having a hybrid for all of a few months, Chrysler is going to go without until the Dodge Ram in 2010.  And I can't imagine the hybrids they do build will be flying off the lots at this point.  The loss in value from a discontinued line should guarantee very few will be interested.

2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Hybrid on Sale

With the first Chrysler Hybrid sold to Lee Iacocca, Chrysler released their new hybrid SUVs, the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid.

After working together with GM and BMW to co-develop the two-mode hybrid system, Chrysler decided to undercut their GM rivals by offering the Aspen and Durango Hybrids for about $5,000 to $8,000 less than their GM counterparts. Add in the $2,200 in tax credits buyers may be eligible for, and you might see why Chrysler would feel good about their chances in competing in the hybrid SUV field.

The fuel economy in all of the new hybrid SUVs has improved about the same. Both hybrid SUVs from Chrysler have improved their fuel economy by about 50 percent in the city, giving them a 20 mpg city and 22 mpg highway rating from the EPA.

That doesn't exactly make them the most fuel efficient vehicles for 2009 on the road, but it certainly makes them much better than their oversized SUV counterparts.

Along with the electric motor, the new hybrid SUVs come with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with Multi-Displacement System technology along with an electrically variable transmission. Together, the two engines can produce 400 hp and 380 lb.-ft of torque. That gives them a towing capacity of 6,000 lbs.

The 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid are built in Delaware at the Newark Assembly Plant.  But that plant is scheduled to close sometime next year. 

The new hybrid SUVs from Chrysler were introduced at the LA Auto Show back in 2007 and are on sale now.

Lee Iacocca First in Line for New Hybrid Aspen

A 2009 Chrysler Aspen was delivered to Lee Iacocca in Southern California, marking the beginning of Chrysler's hybrid sales. Lee Iacocca, the former Chrysler chairman, may have been excited to get the first Aspen Hybrid, but most people interested in large hybrid SUVs will be excited about the price.

Chrysler placed the pricetag on their hybrid SUVs $5,000 less than the GM hybrid SUVs. GM, Chrysler, and BMW worked together to develop the two-mode hybrid system to be used in their hybrid SUVs.

In the long run, based on the sales figures from GM, the number of hybrid SUVs sold by Chrysler or GM may not be all that significant. But the more hybrids sold, the better off the hybrid marketplace will be as more automakers and suppliers come on board, pushing the price down.

Source: The Oakland Press: The best place for news in and around Oakland County

Chrysler Surprises US With Not One, But Three EV

Chrysler has dropped a bombshell today, announcing they should have an electric or an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) in production by 2010. (See the report from CNBC.)  Chrysler set up their ENVI (short for environment)  engineering department and has been secretly developing their plug-in hybrids (excuse me, E-REV) vehicles for some time.

BTW, that's the same time line as the Chevy Volt we've been hearing so much about.

Chrysler introduced the Dodge EV, an all electric two-seater sports car that can go 0-60 mph in less than five seconds, with quarter-mile times of 13 second. It only has a range of 150-200 miles.

They also introduced two E-REV, the Jeep Wrangler and a Town and Country minivan.  Both can go 40 miles (or so) on all electric power.  Both are labled with the EV label, but have a small gas motor which is used to recharge the battery pack.  That helps extend their range to 400 miles.  It also means you won't end up running out of electricity somewhere, since you can always refill the gas tank.

All three cars are meant to be plugged in (4 hours to charge on a 220, 8 hours on a 110) to be recharged (see more about their specs at the bottom of the press release below).  They have lithium-ion battery packs (Li-Ion) with over 20 kWh.  For comparison, the current version of the Prius has a little over 1 kWh on its battery pack, while the Volt is supposed to have 16 kWh.

This is a big deal because GM has been working on and talking about their Chevy Volt for over a year.  GM has brought us along at each point in the production of their E-REV sedan and has really widened eyes with the potential behind these vehicles.  A cross between an electric and a gas car that truly gets the best of both worlds.  With a 40 mile electric range, most traveling could eliminate the use of gasoline.  But, if you needed to go farther, you still can.  You don't have to worry if you go on a long trip whether the hotel you're staying at will let you plug in overnight.  You can just refuel using gas and go.

At the same time, many people may not be able to plug in their vehicles at all (think apartment dwellers, people who park in garages, etc...).  So, it may never be possible to switch over everyone to an all electric, or even a partial electric, transportation system.

The strange part about this announcement (other than why didn't they bring these cars to an auto show, why do it through a news report?) is this.  All three vehicles have been pronounced able to go into production.  But they haven't decided which of them will.  In fact, all we know is one of the three will supposedly be in production by 2010.  Which one? 

Also, although the Volt is going to be a sedan, these three vehicles are in three different categories (sports, Jeep, and minivan).  So, are any of these really a threat to steal the show from GM?  I doubt it.  Although, if they choose the minivan, it may be the first hybrid minivan to hit production scene, making it a unique choice.  That may capture the attention of buyers.

But then, it also may come down to price.  Unless Chrysler gives us a real indicator of how much they are going to cost (and you can see how well they avoid the question in their announcement with CNBC), it's really hard to guage how well their new EV line-up will play.


As an aside, Chrysler is also bringing an all electric Peapod to production with GEM.  This is a small car (golfcart?) for gated communities and such.

Press Release Follows:

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Actions speak louder than
words.

    -- One targeted to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American
       markets, and European markets after 2010
    -- Chrysler LLC to have approximately one hundred electric vehicles on the
       road in government, business, utility and development fleets in 2009
    -- Chrysler electric-drive technology to be applied to front-wheel-drive,
       rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms
    -- Dodge EV:  All-electric Performance Sports Car
    -- Jeep(R) EV:  Wrangler Range-extended Electric Vehicle to allow
       customers to roam the planet and take care of it at the same time
    -- Chrysler EV:  Town & Country Range-extended Electric Vehicle
    -- Chrysler and General Electric pursue joint project with U.S. Department
       of Energy

    Chrysler LLC announced today that the Company and its ENVI organization
have new production-intent, advanced electric-drive technology packaged in
three different vehicles -- one for each of its brands, Chrysler, Jeep(R)
and Dodge.

    Chrysler will select one electric-drive model to be produced in 2010
for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010.
Additionally, approximately one hundred Chrysler electric vehicles will be
on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development
fleets in 2009.

    The Company said that it is well into the development of advanced,
production-intent electric vehicles, and that it will apply electric-drive
technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame
four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.

    At its World Headquarters here today, Chrysler revealed its
electric-drive prototypes -- Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV -- and
demonstrated the driving performance and capability of each.

    "We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver
environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and
our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than
any other automobile manufacturer," said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO --
Chrysler LLC. "The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric
vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future, and demonstrates that
we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric
vehicles to market."

    ENVI Organization

    The development of Chrysler's Electric Vehicles and Range-extended
Electric Vehicles is led by ENVI -- representing the first four letters of
"environmental" -- the Company's in-house organization that was formed to
focus on electric-drive production vehicles and related advanced
technologies. The development of electric-drive systems for future
Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles is maturing quickly.

    "ENVI was created just over one year ago with the strategic intent to
develop electric-drive vehicles quickly for Chrysler, and it is surpassing
expectations," said Tom LaSorda -- Vice Chairman and President. "With ENVI,
Chrysler is developing technology to bring Electric Vehicles and extremely
fuel-efficient Range-extended Electric Vehicles to market."

    Electric Vehicle Technology

    Chrysler's Electric Vehicles utilize just three primary components.
These include an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced
lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor, and a
controller that manages energy flow. The electric-drive system is being
developed for front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame
four-wheel-drive vehicle applications.

    "This technology provides customers with a vehicle that has zero
tailpipe emissions and a 150 to 200 mile driving range -- far exceeding
most Americans' daily commutes, as nearly 80 percent of Americans drive
less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year," said Frank Klegon,
Executive Vice President -- Product Development. "Electric Vehicles provide
the opportunity to fulfill social responsibility, reduce dependency on
foreign oil, and eliminate monthly gasoline bills, while delivering
performance and utility that our customers desire."

    Range-extended Electric Vehicle Technology

    The Range-extended Electric Vehicle combines the electric-drive
components of the Electric Vehicle with a small gasoline engine and
integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the
electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of
an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today's
gasoline-powered vehicles -- with no compromises in performance.

    Range-extended Electric Vehicles offer environmental responsibility
without giving up driving range, comfort or utility.

    Dodge EV

    The Dodge EV development Electric Vehicle is a two-passenger
rear-wheel-drive sports car that marries high performance with zero
tailpipe emissions.

    "The Dodge EV sets a new standard for what can be expected in
electric-drive vehicles," said Lou Rhodes, Vice President -- Advance
Vehicle Engineering, and President -- ENVI. "The electric-vehicle
technology enables a fun-to-drive performance sports car and helps redefine
the vision of an environmentally responsible vehicle for the Dodge brand."

    The electric-drive system consists of three primary components: a 200
kW (268 horsepower) electric motor, an advanced lithium-ion battery and an
integrated power controller.

    The 200 kW electric-drive motor generates 650 N*m (480 lb.-ft.) of
torque. The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor delivers
outstanding performance, accelerating the Dodge EV to 60 mph in less than
five seconds, with quarter-mile times of 13 seconds. The Dodge EV has a top
speed of more than 120 mph.

    Working with the latest advanced lithium-ion battery technology, the
Dodge EV has a continuous driving range of 150 to 200 miles, based on
advancement of new battery technology -- more than triple the average daily
commute of most consumers. Recharging the vehicle is a simple one-step
process: plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet for eight
hours. The recharge time can be cut in half to four hours by using a
typical 220-volt household appliance power outlet.

    The Dodge EV offers driving enthusiasts a performance sports car that
can be driven to work every day -- without consuming gasoline or producing
tailpipe emissions.

    Jeep EV

    The Jeep EV development vehicle is a Range-extended Electric Vehicle
that provides a glimpse into the future of a "Go Anywhere, Do Anything"
vehicle with renowned Jeep Wrangler capability.

    The Jeep EV combines Wrangler's unmatched off-road capability with the
ultimate "Tread Lightly" mindset by providing nature ambassadors with the
ability to roam the planet and take care of it at the same time.

    The Jeep EV Range-extended Electric Vehicle uses an electric motor, an
advanced lithium-ion battery system, and a small gasoline engine with an
integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the
electric-drive system when needed. The 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric
motor generates 400 N*m (295 lb.-ft.) of torque. With approximately eight
gallons of gasoline, the Jeep EV has a range of 400 miles, including 40
miles of zero fuel-consumption, zero-emissions, all-electric operation.

    "We are also exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to
demonstrate the full reach of ENVI's advanced electric-drive technologies,"
said Rhodes.

    The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor and the ability to
precisely control each wheel independently results in off-road capability
ideally suited for the Jeep brand, without compromising on-road driving
capability.

    Chrysler EV

    The Chrysler EV development vehicle is a Range-extended Electric
Vehicle that demonstrates another possible application of ENVI
electric-drive technology in the segment-leading Chrysler Town & Country
minivan.

    "With the Chrysler EV, we are able to blend seven-passenger capability
and the luxury of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan with electric-drive
technology, demonstrating family practicality with zero compromise," said
Rhodes. "ENVI's electric-drive development vehicles showcase our
accelerated application of electric-drive systems into a wide range of
vehicles in Chrysler's future product portfolio."

    The Chrysler EV combines the electric-drive components of an Electric
Vehicle with an integrated small-displacement engine and generator to
produce additional electricity to power the electric-drive system when
needed. This provides all of the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle
and extends the driving range to be equivalent to today's gasoline-powered
vehicles -- without compromises.

    The Chrysler EV uses a 190 kW (255 horsepower) motor, producing 350 N*m
(258 lb.-ft.) of torque, providing 0 to 60 mph acceleration in
approximately nine seconds. The Chrysler EV Range-extended Electric Vehicle
can drive 40 miles on all-electric power, and boasts a range of 400 miles
on approximately eight gallons of gasoline. This makes the Chrysler EV the
perfect fuel-efficient family vehicle.

    The knowledge and experience gained from the Chrysler EV will be
applied to other front-wheel-drive applications in Chrysler's portfolio.

    Chrysler LLC Electric-vehicle Consumer Web Site

    Chrysler LLC has launched a web site -- http://www.Chryslergoeselectric.com --
to allow consumers to view the latest updates on Electric Vehicles and
Range-extended Electric Vehicles from the Company. Content will include
videos, photography and news, and visitors can sign up for updates. In
addition, the site features a blog where consumers can interact directly
with the Company.

    Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement

    Chrysler and General Electric are jointly pursuing a project with the
United States Department of Energy to explore advanced energy-storage
technology.

    "Chrysler's partnership with General Electric combines the
electric-drive technology demonstrated in the Chrysler Electric Vehicles,
with GE's research and development of advanced energy storage systems,"
said Klegon. "Our collective goal working with the DOE is to develop a new,
integrated energy-storage system to make electric vehicle battery packs
smaller and significantly less expensive than current designs."

    Chrysler and GE will develop and evaluate dual-battery solutions based
on GE's unique technology.

    "One of the challenges with electric vehicles is finding a battery with
the correct balance between power -- for example, during vehicle
acceleration -- and energy for long driving range," said Klegon. "We
believe that combining two unique battery chemistries -- one biased toward
power and the other toward energy -- into a single battery pack is very
promising for a future Chrysler Electric Vehicle."



                                   DODGE EV
                          PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

    Vehicle Type
    Body style:            Two-passenger, performance sports car
    Drivetrain:            Electric propulsion, rear-wheel drive
    Category:              Electric Vehicle

    Electric-drive System
    Power:                 200 kW (268 hp)
    Torque:                650 N*m (480 lb.-ft.)
    Energy Recovery:       Regenerative braking

    Battery System
    Type:                  Lithium-ion
    Energy:                26 kWh
    Peak power:            200 kW
    Voltage:               380 to 420
    Charging:              Onboard charger - dual voltage
                           110/120-volt outlet (15A) - standard household
                            power outlet
                           220/240-volt outlet: (30A) - household appliance
                            power outlet

    Performance
    0-60 mph:              Less than 5.0 seconds
    1/4-mile Acceleration: 13.0 seconds
    Top speed:             More than 120 mph
    Range (city):          150 to 200 miles


                                   JEEP EV
                          PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

    Vehicle Type
    Body style:            Five-passenger SUV
    Drivetrain:            Electric propulsion, two-wheel drive and four-wheel
                            drive
    Category:              Range-extended Electric Vehicle

    Electric-drive System
    Power:                 200 kW (268 hp)
    Torque:                400 N*m (295 lb.-ft.)
    Energy Recovery:       Regenerative braking

    Battery System
    Type:                  Lithium-ion
    Energy:                27 kWh
    Peak power:            200 kW
    Voltage:               370 to 410
    Charging:              Onboard charger - dual voltage
                           110/120-volt outlet (15A) - standard household
                            power outlet
                           220/240-volt outlet: (30A) - household appliance
                            power outlet

    Performance
    0-60 mph:              9.0 seconds
    1/4-mile Acceleration: 16.5 seconds
    Top speed:             More than 90 mph
    Range (city):          400 miles, with more than 40 miles all-electric


                                 CHRYSLER EV
                          PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

    Vehicle Type
    Body style:            Seven-passenger minivan
    Drivetrain:            Electric propulsion, front-wheel drive
    Category:              Range-extended Electric Vehicle

    Electric-drive System
    Power:                 190 kW (255 hp)
    Torque:                350 N*m (258 lb.-ft.)
    Energy Recovery:       Regenerative braking

    Battery System
    Type:                  Lithium-ion
    Energy:                22 kWh
    Peak power:            200 kW
    Voltage:               370 to 410
    Charging:              Onboard charger - dual voltage
                           110/120-volt outlet (15A) - standard household
                            power outlet
                           220/240-volt outlet: (30A) - household appliance
                            power outlet

    Performance
    0-60 mph:              8.7 seconds
    1/4-mile Acceleration: 16.2 seconds
    Top speed:             More than 100 mph
    Range (city):         400 miles, with more than 40 miles all-electric

Chrysler Begins Production of the Hybrid Durango and Hybrid Aspen

Chrysler has begun building their hybrid SUVs, but in a plant that's going to close next year.

Despite putting all that money into developing the two-mode hybrid system with BMW and GM, Chrysler must not have a lot of hope for their Dodge Durango Hybrid and Chrysler Aspen Hybrid SUVs.  Perhaps they've been looking over at the sales of GM's hybrid SUVs, which haven't exactly taken off, yet.

But still, this is Chrysler's first foray into the hybrid marketplace, and production did begin in the its Newark, Del. assembly plant..  The plant needed some new components to be installed, including the battery packs, high-voltage cables and the hybrid powertrain.  They also needed to add in electric air conditioning, an auxiliary power module, hydro-electric power steering pump and more.

The two-mode hybrid system is a full hybrid powertrain, which means it can run on all-electric power at low speeds, switching to an electric assist at higher speeds.  The hybrid SUVs will also come with cylinder de-activation and regenerative braking to help recharge the battery pack.

The Durango and Aspen Hybrid were priced at $8,000 less than the hybrid SUVs from GM.  At $45,340 the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid is priced a lot higher than the lowest starting point for the 2009 Dodge Durango.  It starts at $27,630 (according to Edmunds.com). That's obviously a big difference, but the Hybrid powertrain isn't all you get. The 2009 Aspen Hybrid has an MSRP of $45,570. The 2009 Aspen starts at $34,270, but again, the Aspen hybrid will come with more options.

The First Hybrid Minivan Will Come From Toy.... err... Chrysler?

Hybrid minivans have been demanded by some consumers for years. They need the extra room, but don't want an SUV and they want better fuel economy. Hybrid minivans, available in Japan for years, they say, are the answer.

And Chrysler, not Toyota, may be the first to bring a hybrid minivan to market. Since Chrysler has yet to put a full hybrid of any kind on the road (their first two models, the Aspen and Durango are due out next month), that's pretty surprising.

Or is it? Chrysler, even more than the other big car companies, depends on sales of larger vehicles. They don't have as many smaller vehicles they can switch production to. So, perhaps a hybrid minivan from Chrysler makes all the sense in the world.

And given the high gas prices of today leading to such a huge reduction in truck and SUV sales, the sooner the better for the company.

Although, the hybrid minivan from Chrysler may not be the full hybrid you would expect. The two-mode system may not be suitable for a minivan, as it was developed with over-sized SUVs like the Aspen (and GM's Yukon and Tahoe) in mind. But a mild hybrid wouldn't really cut it. You only need to look at the sales numbers for the mild Vue, Aura and Malibu to figure that out.

According to JD Powers, a Dodge Grand Caravan is in the works with both a hybrid and a diesel engine models. J.D. Powers is predicting that 7.5% of the 2010 lineup could sell as hybrid models. That would be 12-13,000 units.

Toyota plans on having a Sierra Hybrid on the road by 2010. VW has plans for a diesel Routan, while Honda is likely to bring a diesel Odyssey minivan, as well.