Chrysler and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are organizing a national demonstration program for a plug-in version of the Dodge Ram truck. This program already enlisted the assistance of Yuma County, Central Hudson Gas & Electric and four municipal governments. The purpose of the Ram 1500 PHEV trial is to determine not only the viability of the vehicle but the limitations of fleet EV operation in America. The latest participant in the Ram PHEV trial is Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). This regional transit body will incorporate 10 RAM 1500 PHEVs into their facilities and maintenance fleets over the next year.

This demonstration program was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The DOE’s Transportation Electrification Initiative issued $48 million in grants to Chrysler for development of a plug-in passenger vehicle. The goal of the Transportation Electrification Initiative is to develop green methods of transportation that reduce dependence on foreign oil and negative environmental impacts. Chrysler added $49.4 million for the Ram 1500 PHEV project to design and produce the demo vehicles as well as market the project to public officials. This program will be replicated by Chrysler in the next few years as the automaker develops a plug-in version of the Town & Country minivan.

The Ram 1500 PHEV operates with a 12.9kWh lithium-ion battery as well as a 5.7-liter engine. The gas engine uses the automaker’s Fuel Saver feature, which reduces fuel consumption at high speeds by restricting operation for up to half the cylinders. Chrysler incorporated new features like recuperative braking and liquid cooling for the battery to extend vehicle range. This pickup truck features a 6.6kW battery charger with a reverse flow feature that can power tools and generators on job sites. Drivers can access a 240-volt outlet with four prongs for power in remote locations.

MBTA provides another terrain for Chrysler’s 140-vehicle fleet to traverse during this project. Maintenance workers at MBTA travel through snow storms, thunder, wind and a wide range of temperatures. This portion of the demo project will be critical to the future development of the Ram 1500 PHEV. The Dodge Ram 1500 competes in a market sector where toughness, durability and all-weather performance are critical. Chrysler has no plans at present to produce the Ram 1500 PHEV but the plug-in technology could be introduced in future vehicles.

Chrysler recently announced repayment of federal loans to the United States and Canada dating back to 2009. The automaker seems poised to emerge from the edge of disaster to rejoin the competition for American consumers. This rejuvenation includes an effort to introduce more eco-friendly versions of Chrysler’s popular vehicles to corporate fleets. Representatives from Chrysler announced plans to develop a 140-vehicle test fleet using a newly developed Ram plug-in hybrid truck. The first 20 Ram plug-in hybrids were delivered to officials in Clark County, Nevada and Yuma, Arizona. The announcement by Abdullah Bazzi was given before industry insiders and government officials at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Annual Merit Review in May.

The Ram plug-in hybrid truck features a 5.7-liter, V8 gas engine along with a hybrid transmission. A 12.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged efficiently with the automaker’s 7.5kW charging unit. Researchers at Chrysler developed the hybrid system to travel up to 20 miles on all-electric power. Chrysler also notes that the estimated fuel economy for the plug-in Ram is 32 miles per gallon. The hybrid drive train also operates at full capacity down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

This fuel-efficient pickup truck ranks as the only V8 truck to achieve the Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) rating from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Chrysler placed early versions of the Ram plug-in hybrid through series of tailpipe emissions tests set by CARB’s Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV-II) program. Researchers reached the conclusion during early testing that the PZEV standard could be achieved by the Ram plug-in hybrid up to 150,000 miles. This commitment to low vehicle emissions should help Chrysler move beyond a reputation for gas-guzzling models.

Chrysler utilized $40 million in federal grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to develop the Ram plug-in hybrid. These funds helped the $97.4 million project get off the ground and the Chrysler PHEV Pickup Project is budgeted through June 2014. The DOE Merit Review presentation by the automaker included plans to assist fleet buyers with charging needs. These plans include efforts to assess current infrastructure for plug-in vehicles, assessment of electrical usage and early implementation of smart-grid technology. Chrysler anticipates creating a vehicle-to-grid system by September 2012 that would allow smarter energy storage and distribution for fleet clients.

Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) once provided a path into the world of electric vehicles for Chrysler. The automaker has since struggled out of bankruptcy and government ownership to regain popularity among American consumers. Chrysler continues to lighten its load and reconfigure for a broader push into the EV market by selling off GEM. Polaris Industries Inc. and Chrysler agreed last week to the sale after a 60-day closing period that commenced last week. This manufacturer of specialty and recreational vehicles could use the acquisition of GEM to take advantage of consumer interest in entry-level electric vehicles.

Polaris acquires a growing brand of specialty EVs that possesses a strong track record in the United States. Chrysler developed six neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) and all-electric utility vehicles since GEM was founded in 1998. These vehicles are used by retirement communities, hospitals and resorts as short-range transportation. GEM also worked with universities and government agencies to provide utility vehicles for maintenance staff and public safety personnel. Popularity among institutional customers yielded $30 million in sales last year and 45,000 vehicles sold in the past 13 years. GEM vehicles have driven 450 million miles according to figures supplied by Chrysler.

The shift away from niche EVs could help Chrysler focus assets and research facilities toward EVs ready for the freeway. Chrysler noted that GEM vehicles contributed to the automaker’s familiarity with emissions standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and other state environmental boards. The limitations of NEVs and utility EVs include maximum speeds fewer than 35 miles per hour and limited incentives at the state level. GEM may take expertise developed over the past 13 years to Polaris but Chrysler recognized that the future rests with highway EVs rather than NEVs.

Polaris is currently working with state certifying boards to acquire permission to sell GEM products throughout the United States. Representatives with Chrysler and GEM are also briefing Polaris officials about the brand’s products and operational standards. Polaris is a familiar brand among outdoor lovers thanks to the company’s snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles. The combination of a niche EV brand with a renowned manufacturer of recreational vehicles should boost Polaris’ sales beyond the $1.9 billion achieved in 2010. Chrysler now looks beyond the realm of NEVs to create all-electric vehicles that appeal to long-distance commuters and families.

Republicans and Democrats were on board with promoting alternative fuels prior to the 2007 market meltdown. Former President George W. Bush and a Republican Congress created the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership in 2002. FreedomCAR was created to develop green vehicle technology and infrastructure to reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels. This program receives support from America’s Big Three automakers as well as leading fuel companies like Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP America. The resurgent Republican Party that took over the House this month has proposed cuts to this program.

House Republicans recently proposed $2.5 trillion in spending cuts including $200 million for the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. This reduction would seriously cripple FreedomCAR given that the program’s 2010 budget was $333 million. Republicans also want to cut the federal government’s vehicle budget by 20%, representing an annual savings of $600 million per year. These cuts are eclipsed by a proposed $7.5 billion cut for the government’s travel budget, which covers reimbursement and travel costs for officials. Supporters of fuel-efficient vehicles in the Republican Party will likely ask states and private interests to support green vehicle endeavors in place of the federal government.

These cuts would counteract the Obama administration’s two-year effort to promote plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. President Obama announced in 2009 that he wanted one million plug-in hybrids on American roads by 2015. The White House received $300 million in the federal stimulus program to invest in fuel-efficient vehicles for the federal fleet. Democrats in Congress also approved $2.4 billion in grants for battery development and $25 billion for subsidized loans on consumers purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles. The progress made toward the 2015 goal would be diminished significantly if Republicans successfully cut FreedomCAR’s budget.

FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership is a crucial program for a country in serious need of a more diverse transportation system. This initiative created technology roadmaps going back to 2003 with goals for manufacturers and researchers focused on advanced vehicle technology. Researchers participating in the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership covered a broad spectrum of ideas from vehicle-to-grid communication to hydrogen fuel cells. The 21st Century Truck Partnership within FreedomCAR sought to create sustainable technology for civilian and military trucking. House Republicans are proposing cuts to FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership along with other relatively low-cost programs to avoid touching the military budget, Social Security or Medicare.

Utility firm DTE Energy provides electricity and gas to more than 2.7 million homes and businesses in southeastern Michigan. These customers are served through subsidiaries like Detroit Edison, MichCon and Citizens Gas Fuel. DTE Energy announced plans last week to expand its services into the realm of plug-in EV infrastructure. These plans include the provision of free charging stations to the first 2,500 plug-in EV owners in DTE Energy’s service area. The utility is leveraging an existing relationship with Coulomb Technologies to bring EV charging into thousands of homes.

Customers with plug-in EVs will save $2,500 thanks to DTE Energy’s subsidization of ChargePoint Network stations. The utility is accepting applications through December 2013 though the program will end after 2,500 approved customers. DTE Energy noted that they will provide a free meter for each station to keep track of energy use. A strong showing by EV owners in southeast Michigan could encourage DTE Energy and its subsidiaries to subsidize charging stations beyond 2013.

DTE Energy will also provide discounted utility plans and off-peak energy rates to EV owners. A $40 per month utility plan is available to the first 250 customers with registered plug-in EVs. This plan significantly reduces the monthly bills for homeowners who already pay high rates for heating and air conditioning. Customers receiving ChargePoint Network chargers will be able to save up to 40% off their regular rates thanks to deeply discounted rates for off-peak charging. These discounts exist for EV charging between 11:00pm and 9:00am Monday through Friday and around the clock on the weekend. Representatives from DTE Energy estimate that each plug-in EV in the service area could be run on an equivalent of $1 per gallon.

This program should prove beneficial for DTE Energy, Michigan residents and the American auto industry. DTE Energy is generating buzz about the program while educating customers about the benefits of plug-in EVs. This educational program could establish the foundation for a green vehicle explosion in the Detroit metro area. Michigan residents with the financial wherewithal to buy EVs could show the long-term economic benefits of EV infrastructure. The adoption of home vehicle chargers along with customer experiences with off-peak charging could dispel myths about electric vehicles. DTE Energy’s push for green vehicle infrastructure eliminates excuses by the Big Three automakers about the obstacles to plug-in vehicle development.

The floundering Chrysler Group received $70 million from the federal government earlier this year to develop plug-in hybrid pickups and minivans. Chrysler provided $2.5 million apiece to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Kettering University to develop academic programs for green vehicle jobs. The automaker has also extended $3.1 million to Professor Christopher Mi, associate professor of electrical and chemical engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Professor Mi will use the $3.1 million grant to research and develop a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) based on the Dodge Ram Crew 1500.

Mi’s project, entitled “Ram Pickup Truck PHEV Development and Demonstration Project,” goes beyond the development of a plug-in version of the popular pickup truck. The professor will use the university’s engineering labs and research facilities to develop an electric motor, battery packs and a PHEV power converter. Mi will use a portion of the $3.1 million grant to create prototypes of charging technology that would work well with the Dodge Ram PHEV. As these components are available for testing, Mi and his research assistants will develop evaluation criteria to determine when the vehicle is ready for the road.

Chrysler wants the Dodge Ram PHEV to be the only plug-in hybrid pickup truck as well as the only full-sized truck with partial emissions reduction on the market. The Dodge Ram PHEV will use a lithium-ion battery pack capable of recharging within four hours using a 220-volt outlet and six hours using a 110-volt outlet. The regenerative braking system proposed by Professor Mi would be useful during frequent stops and starts on job sites and urban areas. Chrysler projects the Dodge Ram PHEV to get 655 miles using both gasoline and electrical power.

The mixture of “clean vehicle” and “Chrysler” in the same sentence may seem incongruous to most readers. Chrysler is still emerging from its financial failings of the past two years and needs help from universities to develop its next generation of vehicles. Researchers like Professor Mi have the credibility, technical knowledge and access to facilities to develop prototypes for major automakers. If successful, the Dodge Ram PHEV would put Chrysler back on track as a major player in the global auto market. At the very least, American taxpayers will find out if Chrysler has the foresight to turn $70 million into the types of affordable green vehicles wanted by consumers.

As the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) progressed last week, the dour outlook for the American auto industry did not seem to dampen the presentations of some automakers. Chrysler LLC unveiled four hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) as well as its 200C EV concept sedan to show its vision for the near future. The 200C EV is a rear-wheel four-door sedan that can travel up to 40 miles without using a drop of gasoline. The SULEV gas engine extends the 200C’s range to 400 miles and produces 74 horsepower of continuous electric power.

Chrysler’s new concept car was the new kid in town compared to some of its other offerings. The automaker display range-extended EV versions of the Jeep Patriot, Jeep Wrangler United and Chrysler Town and County to NAIAS attendees. The Dodge Circuit sports car has been repackaged from prior concepts, bringing hope to drivers who want to buy American while getting a stylish and eco-friendly ride.

While each offering by Chrysler has unique design quirks, all of the Chrysler EVs share performance levels and drive trains. Chrysler’s ENVI division installed 268-horsepower SULEV engines in each vehicle to extend the range beyond 40 miles of all-electric power. Each EV model features a controller, lithium-ion battery pack and electric traction motor to produce electricity sufficient to stay in motion. The primary differences between the Chrysler EV models is the use of front-wheel (Jeep Patriot EV) and rear-wheel (Dodge Circuit) drives as well as the amount of continuous charge (60 to 74 horsepower).

Chrysler ignored current economic realities to show optimism for its ENVI models. The automaker says it will produce at least one of these models by 2010 in North America and three models by the time 2013 rolls around. The company’s representatives said that they want 500,000 EVs and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) sold throughout the world by 2013. With all due respect to Chrysler’s executives, these goals seem overly ambitious considering their current plight.

The rapid development of all-electric and hybrid electric vehicles requires plenty of cash, production capability and time. Chrysler is surviving in the next few weeks based entirely on an investment made by the federal government under the bailout program. While the 200C EV and the Dodge Circuit may have thrilled NAIAS visitors, these concepts may not see the light of day unless Chrysler figures out how to survive beyond the spring.

(Photo by kqedquest on Flickr)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently reviewing 34 applications submitted at the end of 2008 for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (AVTMLP). Congress established this program last fall as part of its $700 billion bailout package with the dual aims of increasing fuel mileage and decreasing dependence on foreign energy sources. Two of the applicants, A123Systems and EnerDel, asked for more than $2 billion in low-interest loans out of the $25 billion available through the AVTMLP.

A123Systems requested $1.84 billion from the DOE to build a massive production facility near Detroit. This facility would span seven million square feet and employ more than 14,000 workers to meet the company’s ambitious production goals. If the DOE approves A123’s application, the company says that it could produce enough battery packs for up to five million hybrid electric vehicles by 2013.

The A123Systems application seems likely to be approved quickly by the DOE due to the agency’s history with the company. A123Systems received $100,000 in loans from the DOE when it started in 2001. The battery manufacturer would use increased productivity under the AVTMLP to help automaking partners like Chrysler and General Motors. As Congress begins to dole out billions of dollars in stimulus programs and tax cuts in 2009, the $1.84 billion request by A123 Systems seems like a mere pittance.

EnerDel’s $480 million request under AVTMLP also seems headed to approval in the next few months. EnerDel wants to increase production of PHEV and HEV battery packs to 600,000 per year by 2011 at its Indiana plant. The company also wants to build another plant in the United States that could produce 1.2 million HEV packs by 2015. The DOE can help EnerDel create jobs and green the economy by approving the AVTMLP request quickly.

DOE officials will follow a four-step process to determine if any of the 34 applications should receive federal loans. This process includes a review of each application for eligibility, an assessment of appropriate loan terms for approved applicant and a full evaluation of the proposed project. It is important for the DOE and other federal agencies to perform due diligence when handing out these funds. In the end, however, A123Systems and EnerDel seem like prime targets according to the stated mission of the AVTMLP. By loaning $2 billion to two established battery manufacturers in the United States, the AVTMLP would decrease battery costs, increase jobs for skilled workers and make the American auto industry a little bit greener.