It appears that Chrysler LLC is getting ready for an EV revolution. With such fleet vehicles as the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Ram Trucks rolling around the United States, the other member of the Big Three seems to be putting extra effort into alternative versions of their products as more are finding their way on to the streets. The next line of PHEVs will be given to the City of Auburn Hills, Michigan, for a two-year demonstration test. Added to the city’s fleet will be four Chrysler PHEV Town & Country minivans so that proper, real-world evaluations can be had.
“When you see these specially marked Chrysler minivans on the road, you can be assured that they are being driven by City of Auburn Hills employees who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their jobs, the residents and the entire Auburn Hills community,” said City Manager Pete Auger. Across the next two years, Chrysler hopes to garnish approximately 16,800 miles on each van. The Town & Countrys will come with Level II EVSE Charging Stations which will be installed at the City’s Civic Center Campus. Despite having their driving and charging experiences recorded, each PHEV minivan will get driven like any other fleet vehicle so that no “special treatment” will get in the way of a proper evaluation.
“This Town & Country minivan is the only minivan to boast a plug-in hybrid powertrain in combination with flex fuel capability,” said Abdullah A. Bazzi, Senior Manager of Electrified Power Train Programs for Chrysler Group. The vans themselves came to be due to a joint venture between Chrysler LLC and the U.S. Department of Energy. A joint investment totalling more than $25 million will help the automaker create 25 test vehicles that will be scattered across the United States.
Source: Chrysler
