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Chrysler planning to make some electric versions of its vehicles

by Andrew Christian, Email, 09 Aug, 2012

PHEV Chrysler Town & Country/Ram 1500

Your favourite Chrysler model may soon be available with an electric version. Bob Lee, Chrysler’s vice president and head of engine and electrified propulsion engineering, confirmed the group’s plans to produce electric versions for some of its models. Lee was spotted at the Center for Automotive Research's 2012 Management Briefing Seminars where he said that the company is a believer of electrification but only when used sparingly and for the right types of targeted applications. He said that the company is focused on the development of technology for commercialization as it is getting ready for the time when increasingly more consumers notice them and pull them to the market. Chrysler has fallen behind rivals like General Motors Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. in the quest for hybrid and electric vehicles. Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, is concentrating on increasing the efficiency of traditional gasoline engines as well as vehicles that use compressed natural gas. Chrysler said that it plans to start the output of an electric Fiat 500 small car in the later part of 2012 and to begin selling this model in 2013. Furthermore, Chrysler has delivered plug-in hybrid-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivans to municipalities in California, Arizona, North Carolina and Michigan. It also is considering a fleet of plug-in hybrid Ram pickups. [source: Bloomberg]