Chrysler looking for partners on fuel efficient vehicles
Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli seems to recognize that the automaker he's at the helm of needs to reduce its dependence on trucks and SUVs and begin offering more fuel efficient cars. Remember that Chrysler recently made a deal with Nissan to get a new small car in exchange for a full-size truck platform. Nardelli would be interested in more of these cooperations, according to the Detroit Free Press. Nardelli said, "We are accelerating our technology in response to the environment. We can't bet on every technology as some companies can. Hybrid, electric -- if you're at the roulette table, those are the two numbers we're betting on."
According to reports, Chrysler would like to offer something in the same vein as the upcoming Chevy Volt, an electric car with a small engine which recharges the battery for additional range. Chrysler has plans to introduce its first hybrid vehicles, which are, oddly enough, full size SUVs which use similar technology as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KM 5:13PM (5/27/2008)
I want a 2 seat AWD hybrid turbodiesel/electric.
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Dad 6:27PM (5/27/2008)
" Chrysler has plans to introduce its first hybrid vehicles, which are, oddly enough, full size SUVs which use similar technology as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids."
Why would this be "odd"? Don't you know that this hybrid technology was co-developed with GM? Why would this make it "odd"?
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meme 8:02PM (5/27/2008)
Hopefully whatever they make will be more efficient than the Volt.
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paul.stoller 9:31PM (5/27/2008)
How is the Volt inefficient?
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rob 11:02PM (5/27/2008)
Volt -- Except for a ridiculously oversized engine for the genset, so far as we know it isn't inefficient. But why not try to out-do them? The Volt should only need around a 20hp engine, but the one it's getting will probably be good for 80-100hp (and will have 4x the cylinders and weigh 3x as much as is needed).
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Rei 12:00AM (5/28/2008)
The engine for the Volt is way oversized so that the vehicle can do ~120mph in charge-sustaining mode. It's ridiculous. Now, don't get me wrong -- at ~50mpg in charge sustaining mode, it's more efficient than most vehicles on the road right now. But that's barely better than a current-gen Prius. There are a *lot* of next-gen vehicles that do a heck of a lot better than 50mpg.
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Luke 2:11AM (5/28/2008)
I doubt that the Volt can both generate power and provide A/C and heat without a rather large motor. Batteries alone can't do that in a way that will make the car useful to the average commuter.
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Chris M 2:43AM (5/28/2008)
Sounds like another "Me Too" effort, and simple imitation does not bode well for the future of Chrysler.
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Rei 2:56AM (5/28/2008)
Luke: AC and heat use a fraction as much power as the motor. Run the numbers. The motor is way oversized. The motor runs a 53 kW generator. Based on the info released so far, it's to get around 200Wh/mi at 55mph. That's 11kW. The motor has almost *five times* more power than it needs for *sustained travel* at that speed (let alone peak performance).
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C. LeRoy 6:12AM (5/28/2008)
Chrysler is looking while one company is searching for a partner in the big dogs of the Automakers, sounds like a match to me! Lets try and put AFS Trinity Power and Chrysler together shall we. Here is a link to the AFS Trinity Web Site: http://www.afstrinity.com/index.htm Even though they placed there package in a Saturn it does not say Chrysler could not take advantage of this great working project.
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FThorn 7:25AM (5/28/2008)
You want Chrysler to buy Saturn? (just kidding....)
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