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From the Toledo Blade:
Chrysler switching gears, to add electric car by 2010; 3 prototypes include Jeep Wrangler
Chrysler hopes to get a jump on competitors in electric powered vehicles.
By GARY T. PAKULSKI and LARRY VELLEQUETTE
BLADE BUSINESS WRITERS
The mountain-climbing, desert-traversing Jeep Wrangler could be headed on a new adventure: to an electric outlet.
Manufacturer Chrysler LLC yesterday unveiled an electric-drive prototype of the Toledo-built model intended to go 400 miles — about the distance between northwest Ohio and Knoxville, Tenn.— on eight gallons of gas.
That’s 50 miles to the gallon, or more than double the vehicle’s current highway fuel economy.
“Wow!†said a surprised Bruce Baumhower, president of United Auto Workers Local 12, which represents about 3,400 workers at the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex. “We’re excited that they’re doing something to help our products in the marketplace.â€
Eager to prove that Chrysler isn’t the technology laggard of the U.S. auto industry, Chief Executive Bob Nardelli rolled out a line of electric vehicles at company headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.
They include an all-electric two-seater Dodge sports car with a range of up to 200 miles and a Town & Country minivan with technology and fuel economy similar to the Jeep prototype.
One of the vehicles will be introduced in 2010, but executives refused to identify which it will be.
In a telephone interview, spokesman Cole Quinnell declined to elaborate on the matter.
He wouldn’t confirm that, if selected, the Jeep would be built in Toledo but strongly hinted that would be the case.
“We have a long history of building Jeeps there,†he said. “We would look to continue the relationships we have.â€
The plant wouldn’t require major retooling, Mr. Quinnell said.
The main purpose of the prototype, he said, is to show that Chrysler has adapted electric-vehicle technology for sport utility vehicles like the Wrangler. But it is possible, Mr. Quinnell added, that the company could choose a different SUV for full-scale production.
Chrysler intends to introduce a complete line of electric vehicles by 2019, executives said.
Unlike traditional hybrids, electric vehicles like those Chrysler and other automakers are rushing to market, are designed to use a small fuel-powered engine only to recharge the battery pack.
The Jeep prototype, a four-door version which would seat five people, runs on electricity but has a back-up gas-burning motor to generate electricity once the battery charge runs out after about 40 miles.
So-called “range extended vehicles†would rely on a power system similar to that being developed for the electric Volt planned by General Motors Corp. The Jeep prototype’s lithium-ion battery system plugs into a standard household outlet.
Chrysler engineers are working on a system that would use separate electric motors for each of the Wrangler’s wheels. But that is just one option under study.
“We are well ahead of where people think we are,†Chrysler President Jim Press said of electric vehicle development. “Perhaps that’s because we haven’t tooted our horn up until now.â€
About 100 of the vehicles shown yesterday will be used in government and company fleets. By using existing models, rather than starting the design process from scratch, Chrysler hopes to gain on competitors in the race to develop electric vehicles. The company, with its dependence on sales of gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs, has been hit hard by rising fuel prices.
Sales of the Toledo-built Wrangler nearly doubled in 2007 when Chrysler introduced a four-door version of the iconic SUV, but returned to historic sales levels this year of between 60,000 and 80,000 units as high gas prices ravaged SUV sales.
Dave Doster, Jeep sales manager at the Yark Automotive Group, welcomed the possibility of an electric-drive Wrangler.
“It’s exciting,†said Mr. Doster, who attended a dealer briefing in Detroit. “I wish they could roll it out tomorrow.†He predicted brisk sales for the vehicle, if it is built.
One of the three vehicles shown takes direct aim at the $109,000 Roadster from privately held Tesla Motors. The lightweight Dodge EV, being developed with Lotus Cars Ltd., is designed to jump from zero to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
Company officials said the electric minivan shows great promise because most minivan trips are close to home, so it could operate almost solely on electricity.
Chrysler said it was still working out production plans, pricing, and the key issue of what supplier would provide the lithium-ion batteries for its first run of electric vehicles.
The owner of the Jeep brand also unveiled the Peapod, a new small “neighborhood electric vehicle†that can go up to 30 miles on a charge.
Dan Henneman, UAW chairman at Toledo Jeep, said an electric Wrangler would help build credibility with employees for new owner Cerberus Capital Management LP.
“What’s great is that really tells us that Cerberus is in this for the long haul — that they aren’t just looking to sell off the company piece by piece.â€
Information from The Blade’s news services was used in this report.
Contact Gary T. Pakulski at:gpakulski@theblade.comor 419-724-6082.
Chrysler switching gears, to add electric car by 2010; 3 prototypes include Jeep Wrangler
Chrysler hopes to get a jump on competitors in electric powered vehicles.
By GARY T. PAKULSKI and LARRY VELLEQUETTE
BLADE BUSINESS WRITERS
The mountain-climbing, desert-traversing Jeep Wrangler could be headed on a new adventure: to an electric outlet.
Manufacturer Chrysler LLC yesterday unveiled an electric-drive prototype of the Toledo-built model intended to go 400 miles — about the distance between northwest Ohio and Knoxville, Tenn.— on eight gallons of gas.
That’s 50 miles to the gallon, or more than double the vehicle’s current highway fuel economy.
“Wow!†said a surprised Bruce Baumhower, president of United Auto Workers Local 12, which represents about 3,400 workers at the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex. “We’re excited that they’re doing something to help our products in the marketplace.â€
Eager to prove that Chrysler isn’t the technology laggard of the U.S. auto industry, Chief Executive Bob Nardelli rolled out a line of electric vehicles at company headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.
They include an all-electric two-seater Dodge sports car with a range of up to 200 miles and a Town & Country minivan with technology and fuel economy similar to the Jeep prototype.
One of the vehicles will be introduced in 2010, but executives refused to identify which it will be.
In a telephone interview, spokesman Cole Quinnell declined to elaborate on the matter.
He wouldn’t confirm that, if selected, the Jeep would be built in Toledo but strongly hinted that would be the case.
“We have a long history of building Jeeps there,†he said. “We would look to continue the relationships we have.â€
The plant wouldn’t require major retooling, Mr. Quinnell said.
The main purpose of the prototype, he said, is to show that Chrysler has adapted electric-vehicle technology for sport utility vehicles like the Wrangler. But it is possible, Mr. Quinnell added, that the company could choose a different SUV for full-scale production.
Chrysler intends to introduce a complete line of electric vehicles by 2019, executives said.
Unlike traditional hybrids, electric vehicles like those Chrysler and other automakers are rushing to market, are designed to use a small fuel-powered engine only to recharge the battery pack.
The Jeep prototype, a four-door version which would seat five people, runs on electricity but has a back-up gas-burning motor to generate electricity once the battery charge runs out after about 40 miles.
So-called “range extended vehicles†would rely on a power system similar to that being developed for the electric Volt planned by General Motors Corp. The Jeep prototype’s lithium-ion battery system plugs into a standard household outlet.
Chrysler engineers are working on a system that would use separate electric motors for each of the Wrangler’s wheels. But that is just one option under study.
“We are well ahead of where people think we are,†Chrysler President Jim Press said of electric vehicle development. “Perhaps that’s because we haven’t tooted our horn up until now.â€
About 100 of the vehicles shown yesterday will be used in government and company fleets. By using existing models, rather than starting the design process from scratch, Chrysler hopes to gain on competitors in the race to develop electric vehicles. The company, with its dependence on sales of gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs, has been hit hard by rising fuel prices.
Sales of the Toledo-built Wrangler nearly doubled in 2007 when Chrysler introduced a four-door version of the iconic SUV, but returned to historic sales levels this year of between 60,000 and 80,000 units as high gas prices ravaged SUV sales.
Dave Doster, Jeep sales manager at the Yark Automotive Group, welcomed the possibility of an electric-drive Wrangler.
“It’s exciting,†said Mr. Doster, who attended a dealer briefing in Detroit. “I wish they could roll it out tomorrow.†He predicted brisk sales for the vehicle, if it is built.
One of the three vehicles shown takes direct aim at the $109,000 Roadster from privately held Tesla Motors. The lightweight Dodge EV, being developed with Lotus Cars Ltd., is designed to jump from zero to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
Company officials said the electric minivan shows great promise because most minivan trips are close to home, so it could operate almost solely on electricity.
Chrysler said it was still working out production plans, pricing, and the key issue of what supplier would provide the lithium-ion batteries for its first run of electric vehicles.
The owner of the Jeep brand also unveiled the Peapod, a new small “neighborhood electric vehicle†that can go up to 30 miles on a charge.
Dan Henneman, UAW chairman at Toledo Jeep, said an electric Wrangler would help build credibility with employees for new owner Cerberus Capital Management LP.
“What’s great is that really tells us that Cerberus is in this for the long haul — that they aren’t just looking to sell off the company piece by piece.â€
Information from The Blade’s news services was used in this report.
Contact Gary T. Pakulski at:gpakulski@theblade.comor 419-724-6082.
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