Electrified trucks and vans have been offered to New York state for trials.A little internet birdie told us that Chrysler has approached government officials in New York state about participating in a trial program for upcoming plug-in hybrid vehicles. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has been offered about 20 such vehicles, to be comprised of Dodge Ram crew cab pickup trucks and Chrysler Town & Country minivans.
Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab Plug-In Hybrid
The plug-in Ram likely will be a modified version of the upcoming Ram two-mode hybrid, which is set to launch sometime in 2010. The plug-in version will use the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and a lithium-ion battery pack, together making a maximum of 399 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in pickup will have a 20-mile electric-only range, and Dodge claims it will have a total range of over 650 miles. The truck is claimed to return as high as 42 mpg in certain situations, a lofty promise to be sure. The battery pack can be fully recharged in two hours from 220-volt power or four hours from a 110-volt plug. Like most hybrid systems, regenerative brakes will help replenish the batteries.
The Ram will also have the added feature of being able to act as a generator. Four 120-volt and one 240-volt outlet in the bed, as well as a 120-volt plug in the truck’s center console will feed electricity from the batteries that can be restocked by the truck’s engine. The trucks offered to the state of New York are crew cabs with a four-wheel-drive system that can decouple the front axle to save fuel. Payload is listed at 1300 lb, while the truck is rated to tow 6000 lb. The truck itself should tip the scales at about 5900 lb, or nearly the same as a standard Ram crew cab.
Chrysler Town & Country Plug-In Hybrid
New York government agencies will also be able to opt for a Chrysler Town & Country plug-in hybrid. The plug-in vans will not be offered with Stow ‘n Go seats, because the lithium-ion batteries occupy the underfloor storage bins; Swivel ‘n Go second-row seats will be included. The program’s vans will use Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6—running on gasoline or E85—as part of their hybrid powertrain. (This revelation, of course, leads us to conclude that the Pentastar powerplant will soon make its way into regular consumer-grade minivans.) Output will stand at 290 hp with battery assistance. Fuel economy is quoted as high as 53 mpg, a claim we find as dubious as the 42-mpg figure for the Ram. Chrysler says the van can run up to 24 miles on electricity alone and travel a total of 700 miles.
Unlike the Ram, the plug-in T&C will weigh considerably more than its standard gas-powered counterpart; curb weight is listed at 5240 lb, about 600 more than a conventional Chrysler van. Charge time matches the Ram’s, taking either two or four hours depending on supplied voltage. Payload is rated at 1200 lb and the van will be able to pull 1000 lb.
The New York trials would begin in January of 2011 and last for three years. The vehicles would be expected to log at least 50,000 miles over that time. Vehicles would be leased to the government at no cost, with the agencies only having to cover fuel and regular maintenance. It’s likely that Chrysler is offering similar loans to other states or organizations, as they recently showed an all-electric van concept to the U.S. Postal Service.
New York government agencies will also be able to opt for a Chrysler Town & Country plug-in hybrid. The plug-in vans will not be offered with Stow ‘n Go seats, because the lithium-ion batteries occupy the underfloor storage bins; Swivel ‘n Go second-row seats will be included. The program’s vans will use Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6—running on gasoline or E85—as part of their hybrid powertrain. (This revelation, of course, leads us to conclude that the Pentastar powerplant will soon make its way into regular consumer-grade minivans.) Output will stand at 290 hp with battery assistance. Fuel economy is quoted as high as 53 mpg, a claim we find as dubious as the 42-mpg figure for the Ram. Chrysler says the van can run up to 24 miles on electricity alone and travel a total of 700 miles.
Unlike the Ram, the plug-in T&C will weigh considerably more than its standard gas-powered counterpart; curb weight is listed at 5240 lb, about 600 more than a conventional Chrysler van. Charge time matches the Ram’s, taking either two or four hours depending on supplied voltage. Payload is rated at 1200 lb and the van will be able to pull 1000 lb.
The New York trials would begin in January of 2011 and last for three years. The vehicles would be expected to log at least 50,000 miles over that time. Vehicles would be leased to the government at no cost, with the agencies only having to cover fuel and regular maintenance. It’s likely that Chrysler is offering similar loans to other states or organizations, as they recently showed an all-electric van concept to the U.S. Postal Service.
Thanks to Caranddriver.com for this Great article picked up on Twitter.
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