Slumping Chrysler To Offer Dealers A Glimpse of Future Electric Vehicle

Slumping Chrysler To Offer Dealers A Glimpse of Future Electric Vehicle

By John O'Dell September 19, 2008

Chrysler's made no secret of its intent to add an EV or two to a fleet best known for its gas-guzzling Hemi V8 engines, hulking Ram pickups and thirsty, off-road-capable 4x4 Jeeps.

Now, in what the Wall Street Journal calls an effort to cheer up its dealers - who've had little to smile about this year as sales have plunged - the carmaker is planning to treat them to a glimpse of the Chrysler electric vehicle it is racing to develop.

The newspaper reports today that it got the word from "people familiar with the matter" - that's code for insiders who want the news to get out so a buzz (like this) begins but who don't want to be publicly identified as the source of the info.

The unidentified "people" told the paper that the car is a compact that uses a series hybrid system similar to the one GM has developed for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt.

It will use an electric drive system and, like the Volt, be able to travel about 40 miles on a single battery charge.  It also, like the Volt, will carry an on-board internal combustion engine that will serve as a generator to keep the electrons flowing on longer trips.

But Chrysler isn't nearly as far along as GM, which is field-testing its system and has vowed to begin producing retail models by the end of 2010.

Unlike GM, which is deep into development of the lithium ion batteries that will be needed to make things work, Chrysler hasn't yet hashed out agreements with suppliers of components for its EV, the insiders told the paper.
Chrysler's dealers are expected to get their first look at the proposed new car when they gather at movie theaters around the country next week for a video conference with CEO Robert Nardelli and Vice Chairman Jim Press - formerly head of hybrid champion Toyota Motor Co.'s U.S. sales and marketing organization.

We think it's a good idea -- Chrysler's team needs all the cheering up it can get.

An even better idea, however, would be to give the buying public a look at what's being planned, and an ideas of how long it might be until the car is ready.

That strategy certainly didn't hurt GM's effort to bolster its public appeal with the Volt --- a car that will have been hyped for three years before a production model rolls off an assembly line.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.