CleanMPG Forums - Chrysler Group LLC Delivers to Duke Energy its Largest Test Fleet of Plug-in Hybrids

Today's deployment is part of an ongoing two-year study of the technology’s real-world performance in a minivan application.

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Ricardo Bowlin - CleanMPG - Apr 18, 2012

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will be supplied to Duke Energy as part of demonstration project by Chrysler Group LLC.

Real-world city and rural miles to be accumulated on demonstration vehicles over next two years :)

Chrysler in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) delivered eight demonstration-fleet Chrysler Town & Country plug-in hybrid minivans to Duke Energy – its largest such deployment to date.

The Duke Energy partnership is one of several that will see a total of 25 plug-in hybrid minivans subjected to a range of driving cycles.

Today's deployment is part of an ongoing two-year study of the technology’s real-world performance in a minivan application.

Abdullah Bazzi, senior manager of the Chrysler Group’s Advanced Hybrid Vehicle Project:

Quote:

Chrysler is very much looking forward to the two years of real-world data that will be obtained enabling Chrysler engineers to assess the viability for future applications.”

Duke Energy welcomed today’s delivery at its headquarters in Charlotte, NC.

In 2009, Duke Energy made a commitment to transition their company cars and trucks to all-electric or PHEVs, with a goal of 100 percent of all new vehicles purchased after 2020 having PHEV capability.

Each plug-in hybrid minivan is equipped with an E85-compatible 3.6L Pentastar engine mated to a front-wheel-drive, two-mode hybrid transmission.

It also is powered by a liquid-cooled 12.1 KWhr lithium-ion battery that affords a total output of 290 horsepower and a range of 700-miles. Charge times are two-to-four hours at 220 volts with a “Level 2” charge cord unit, and eight-to-fifteen hours at 110 volts with a “Level 1” charge unit.

The vehicle’s hybrid system does not require charging.

A fleet of plug-in hybrid Ram pickups also is being evaluated as part of a wider project.

Chrysler dominates the minivan market, selling 13.4 million units globally since inventing the segment in 1983.