People are abuzz with the unveiling of the prototype Chrysler town and Country model for 2010. The EV (electric vehicle) addition to this tried and true line will certainly make its presence felt once it hits the assembly line for Chrysler in mid to late 2009. We understand their logic and think it's the most practical application of Chrysler's hybrid technology we've seen to date.

When fully-charged, the first forty miles are driven in EV mode, with a 200 kW (268 hp) electric motor powering the front wheels. Once power is depleted from the lithium-ion battery pack, the Town & Country EV then activates a small 98-hp gasoline engine, which serves as a generator. Electricity created from the internal combustion engine is sent not only to the battery for recharging, but also to the electric motor, boosting the total range of the vehicle (Chrysler claims it's as high as 400 miles to a tank of gasoline).

Not only does this package make tons of sense for families facing lots of urban driving, but it's also the most likely to be built by 2010: Chrysler's already announced the first ENVI product to reach production will likely be a cargo van (we bet it'll carry Dodge badges), with passenger versions possibly following soon after.

In a current Press release Chrysler CEO and Chairman Bob Nardelli States: “We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer. The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future, and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market.”

Chrysler gets ENVI-ronmentally Focused

Chrysler’s internal research and development for the evolution of electric-drive production is Called ENVI. ENVI (for ENVIronmental) is developing electric-drive systems for future Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. “ENVI was created just over one year ago with the strategic intent to develop electric-drive vehicles quickly for Chrysler, and it is surpassing expectations,” said Tom LaSorda, Vice Chairman and President – Chrysler LLC. “With ENVI, Chrysler is developing technology to bring Electric Vehicles and extremely fuel-efficient Range-extended Electric Vehicles to market.”

Electric Vehicle Technology

The electric vehicle technology is made of 3 primary sources. These include an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor, a controller that manages energy flow and an electric motor to drive the wheels. The electric-drive system is being developed for front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle applications. “This technology provides customers with a vehicle that has zero tailpipe emissions and a 150- to 200-mile driving range – far exceeding most Americans’ daily commutes, as nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “Electric Vehicles provide the opportunity to fulfill social responsibility, reduce dependency on foreign oil, and eliminate monthly gasoline bills, while delivering performance and utility that our customers desire.”

Range-extended Electric Vehicle Technology

The Range-extended Electric Vehicle combines the electric-drive components of the Electric Vehicle with a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles – with no compromises in performance. Range-extended Electric Vehicles offer environmental responsibility without giving up driving range, comfort or utility.

Chrysler and its ENVI organization have new production-intent, advanced electric-drive technology packaged in three different vehicles, Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge.

Chrysler will select one electric-drive model at a later date which will be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010. Additionally, approximately 100 Chrysler electric vehicles will be on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009.

Chrysler says that it is well into the development of advanced, production-intent electric vehicles. It will apply electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.

'This technology provides customers with a vehicle that has zero tailpipe emissions and a 150- to 200-mile driving range – far exceeding most Americans' daily commutes, as nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year,' said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC. Range-extended Electric Vehicle Technology.

Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement

Chrysler and General Electric are currently working on a project with the United States Department of Energy to explore future techniques for energy-storage technology.

Chrysler’s partnership with General Electric combines the electric-drive technology demonstrated in the Chrysler Electric Vehicles, with GE’s research and development of advanced energy storage systems,” said Klegon. “Our collective goal working with the DOE is to develop a new, integrated energy-storage system to make electric vehicle battery packs smaller and significantly less expensive than current designs.”

Chrysler and GE will research and design dual-battery solutions based on GE’s unique technology.

“One of the challenges with electric vehicles is finding a battery with the correct balance between power – for example, during vehicle acceleration – and energy for long driving range,” said Klegon. “We believe that combining two unique battery chemistries – one biased toward power and the other toward energy – into a single battery pack is very promising for a future Chrysler Electric Vehicle.”

A technological pioneer for years, Chrysler is indeed embracing the future with their ENVI technologies. This is a new and quite profitable direction for the family vehicle to head. Research and development is currently underway with production scheduled to begin later in 2009 for the 2010 new car season.