CHRYSLER’S ELECTRIC DREAM, OR WHY A CAR CZAR

It’s hard not to be completely cynical about this. Chrysler, a car company that has been sitting on the sidelines going broke, now is trying to palm itself off as competitive and cutting edge.

Lou Rhodes, vice president for advanced vehicle engineering, Chrysler: "We aren't a one-electric-vehicle company…"

The claim is intended to mean Chrysler is developing a whole line of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), from minivans to off-roaders. It is also, however, literally true. The company doesn’t actually have even a single BEV, neither a PHEV nor a fully electric vehicle (EV).

Rhodes, Chrysler: "This is going to be a big deal for Chrysler…"

Yeah, but does he mean it will be a big deal to go electric or a big deal to get the federal government bailout money the PHEV plan is obviously designed to win?

It’s more than a little like a guy with 6 months to live taking a loan he promises to pay off in 2 years.

Is NewEnergyNews being cynical?

Chrysler says it’s going to sell the same models in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions. It describes this as a low-cost, high-variety electric-vehicle strategy, a comeback plan. THAT’S cynical. It’s about as real as promising to spend their first trillion dollars in profits buying the Obama girls brightly painted ponies.

Rhodes describes the strategy as one that minimizes risk. Yep, as in nothing-ventured-nothing-gained.

OK, enough opinion, here are the facts (their stated strategy):

Just as a small Jeep Compass has a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine while a Jeep Commander SUV has a 5.7-liter V8 engine, Chrysler will engineer its PHEVs to carry more or fewer battery cells.

Rhodes, Chrysler: "The real economy is in the cells…"

Chrysler plans to do the same with the electric motor.

Rhodes, Chrysler: "All we change is the length of the rotor and the number of windings to span between different power outputs…"

Chrysler says it will make this happen for 2010 showrooms. Insiders have confided it is more likely to be 2011 to 2013, leaving them way behind in a race the Chinese have already stated running. (See OBAMA BRINGS NEW ENERGY, CHINA BRINGS PHEV)

An authority tells NewEnergyNews there is merit in standardizing but getting the right standards is no small matter.

Question: If it were really so simple, why would GM’s Volt have been struggling to get to showrooms for the last 3 years? Why would Toyota have been testing its PHEV model of the Prius for 2 years? (And Honda, and Nissan, and BMW…)

This is why the people who advocate giving the Big 3 car companies bailout money want a car czar. Somebody has to look at what they say they are planning and know enough about ICEs and PHEVs to say, “Who do you think you are, Bernie Madoff? Put together a real plan.”

Chrysler says it will standardize a PHEV manufacturing process to these disparate designs. (click to enlarge)

Chrysler's plan to beat the Chevy Volt; Electric vehicles are a 'big deal' for Chrysler, executive says in an exclusive interview
Peter Valdes-Depena, December 16, 2008 (CNN Money)
and
Chrysler concept vehicle
September 23, 2008 (Motor Trend)
and
Are Chrysler’s Electrics For Real?
December 16, 2008 (Kicking Tires)

WHO
Chrysler (Lou Rhodes, vice president, advanced vehicle engineering and president, ENVI); Chrysler subsidiary GEM (Global Electric Motorcars); General Motors (GM)

WHAT
Chrysler claims to have plans in motion to build a full line of PHEVs, including minivans and off-road vehicles.

This powertrain and engine will standardize with...(click to enlarge)

WHEN
- The Chrysler PHEV program is scheduled for launch in 2010. 2011? 2013?
- Based on prototypes shown in September, the 1st Chrysler PHEV will either be a minivan, a Jeep Wrangler 4X4 or a 2-seat sports car with a Lotus body.
- Chrysler says it will roll out its 2nd generation of fully re-engineered PHEVs between 2012 and 2015.
- Chrysler says it will produce 500,000 PHEVs and EVs by 2013.

WHERE
Chrysler says it will adjust the battery pack of the different vehicles to provide a consistent 40-mile battery-powered range.

WHY
- ENVI (letters“environment” that phonetically say “NV” for new vehicle) is a separate Chrysler business division in charge of bringing battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to market at an affordable cost.
- Chrysler’s plan is to sell both gasoline-powered (internal combustion engine, ICE) and BEV versions of its cars, a low-cost, high-variety electric-vehicle strategy.
- Theoretically, the strategy allows flexibility. If gas prices stay low, Chrysler can make ICEs. If gas prices rise, factories can turn out more BEVs.
- The heavier Chrysler Jeep prototype has a 27-kilowatt-hour (KwH) battery pack to carry the bigger vehicle the same 40 miles on battery power GM’s Volt can get with its 16 KwH pack.
- 2nd generation Chrysler PHEVs will be engineered from the wheels up as ICEs or PHEVs.

...this drivetrain and engine? (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Lou Rhodes, vice president for advanced vehicle engineering, Chrysler: "If you know what you want to achieve up front, you can certainly design that flexibility in up front…"
- From the article: “Electric cars aren't just a side-show or a public relations move for Chrysler, Rhodes insists, but a major strategic move. Through its GEM (Global Electric Motorcars) subsidiary, Chrysler already claims to be the largest seller of electric vehicles in the U.S. But those are so-called "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles," ultra-light cars with a top speed limited to 25 miles per hour. Chrysler claims sales of 40,000 GEM cars over the last 10 years.”