Can Chrysler Make It Come True?

April 15, 2009

Chrysler, one of the big three car makers of Detroit, back to few months ago has unveiled three prototypes that use its new electric drive technology. This isn’t just for car shows and marketing pitch but they intend to produce one of the three in late 2010 with some of them will be going for testing within this year.

Chrysler plans to adapt existing models to electric power rather than building a new vehicle platform which from marketing point of view it reasonably make sense for Chrysler because they are signature vehicles that have long been the company’s bread and butter. Basing them on existing models also allows the automaker to bring them to market faster because it doesn’t have to engineer new platforms or engines.

The electric versions will use its Town & Country Minivan, Jeep Wrangler SUV and Dodge EV product series, where the first two model can travel 40 miles by using battery power alone and then 400 mile more with the assitance of small gasoline engine which acts as a generator to keep the battery charged as it approaches depletion. Meanwhile the Dodge EV model will be built on joint-venture based with Lotus, European car maker, to make a rear-wheel sports car with lithium-ion battery powered which will boost the car from 0 to 60 in less than five seconds with a range drive of 150 to 200 miles.

But with the recent economic turmoil in which a downturn in sales affected all automakers including Chrysler, whose sales were down 24 percent last year, raise the big question can they make it come true?

Posted in Technology