Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Chrysler disbands ENVI group, EV development will continue]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/report-chrysler-disbands-envi-group-ev-development-will-contin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/report-chrysler-disbands-envi-group-ev-development-will-contin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/report-chrysler-disbands-envi-group-ev-development-will-contin/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dodge Circuit - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from Reuters, Chrysler has disbanded its ENVI program and integrated the group back into its normal product development organization. Former ENVI head Lou Rhodes will now take the title of group line executive in charge of electric vehicle development and will manage that group for both Chrysler and Fiat. Though we weren't exactly expecting this change, the move isn't entirely surprising.

At this point, we don't yet know what this reorganization means for the electric vehicles that Chrysler had previously promised to put into production, the first of which was to be the Lotus-based Dodge Circuit that was hopefully supposed to be on the market by late 2010.

Fiat CEO and newly-appointed head of Chrysler Sergio Marchionne said earlier this week during Chrysler's painfully long new product plan presentation that electric vehicles are still a very tough proposition with current battery technology. In fact, the automaker expects that less than two percent of its lineup will be electric by 2014, which would amount to fewer than 60,000 vehicles per year.


Gallery: Dodge Circuit EV


[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Chrysler disbands ENVI group, EV development will continue originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerchrysler electric carchrysler electric minivanchrysler electric vehiclechrysler electric vehicleschrysler envichrysler evChryslerElectricCarChryslerElectricMinivanChryslerElectricVehicleChryslerElectricVehiclesChryslerEnviChryslerEvdodge circuitDodgeCircuitenvilou rhodeslou rhodes chryslerlou rhodes enviLouRhodesLouRhodesChryslerLouRhodesEnviMon, 09 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19227622/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/09/report-chrysler-disbands-envi-group-ev-development-will-contin/19227622/article-detail.xml 19227622 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/dodge-circuit_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/dodge-circuit.jpg <![CDATA[REPORT: Dodge Circuit production hints, possibly coming in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/report-dodge-circuit-production-hints-possibly-coming-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/report-dodge-circuit-production-hints-possibly-coming-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/22/report-dodge-circuit-production-hints-possibly-coming-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Dodge Circuit EV concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

With all of the recent upheaval at Chrysler, it's no surprise that the fate of the very cool Dodge Circuit is not exactly certain. In May, Chrysler assured everyone that the program was not DOA, and Chrylser ENVI president Lou Rhodes recently said something similar to Car and Driver. Rhodes even gave C&D a few details about how the program is shaping up.

Chrysler's plan involves having the vehicle produced by Lotus in the UK (sounds familiar) and then shipped to the U.S. for the electric powertrain. Chrysler's sales target is 100,000 EVs in order to benefit from economies of scale for all the expensive EV bits. By selling that many vehicles, Chrysler's efforts could make the Circuit "tens of thousands" of dollars less than the somewhat similar Tesla Roadster. The Circuit is still likely to be Chrysler's first EV, and could start production next year.

Gallery: SAE 2009: Dodge Circuit quick drive


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Car and Driver via All Cars Electric]

REPORT: Dodge Circuit production hints, possibly coming in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodge circuitdodge circuit conceptdodge circuit evdodge circuit productiondodge evDodgeCircuitDodgeCircuitConceptDodgeCircuitEvDodgeCircuitProductionDodgeEvlou rhodesLouRhodesWed, 22 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19105707/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/22/report-dodge-circuit-production-hints-possibly-coming-in-2010/19105707/article-detail.xml 19105707 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/sae-dodge-ev-4-580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/07/sae-dodge-ev-4-580.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler unveils new electric minivan for U.S. Postal Service duty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/22/chrysler-unveils-new-electric-minivan-for-u-s-postal-service-du/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/22/chrysler-unveils-new-electric-minivan-for-u-s-postal-service-du/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/22/chrysler-unveils-new-electric-minivan-for-u-s-postal-service-du/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Chrysler U.S. Postal Service Minivan - Click above for a high-res gallery

Chrysler is celebrating Earth Day today by unveiling the first four of what will be a fleet of 250 battery powered minivans for the US Postal Service. The U.S.P.S. will be using the vans for variety of duties at locations around the country - including daily home delivery.

The vans themselves are based on the concept Town and Country EV that was unveiled last Fall by Chrysler. However, because of the duty cycle used by the Postal Service - which generally amounts to only about 18-20 miles per day on a fixed route - these vehicles are being built without the range extender seen on the concept. However, the electric drive portion of the vehicles, including the motor, electronics and A123 System lithium ion battery pack is identical. The head of Chrysler's ENVI division Lou Rhodes told Autoblog Green this morning that Chrysler is marketing this battery-only version of the van to commercial fleet customers who typically have a shorter range requirements. The extended-range version will be focused on retail customers.

The initial batch of vehicles include a pair of right- and left-hand drive versions, and the total fleet will include a mix. The Postal Service will be using the vehicles for whatever applications they have in different regions of the country. The intent is to evaluate the usability of electric vans, as well as the interaction between the vehicles and the infrastructure. In addition to the post office, Consolidated Edison (Con Ed), Duke Energy, DTE Energy and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will participate in the test program.


Gallery: Chrysler EV USPS mini-van


[Source: Chrysler]

Chrysler unveils new electric minivan for U.S. Postal Service duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chrysler minivanChryslerMinivanConEdDTE EnergyDteEnergyDuke EnergyDukeEnergyElectric Power Research InstituteElectricPowerResearchInstituteENVIEPRILou RhodesLouRhodesPost officepostal servicePostalServicePostOfficeTown and countryTownAndCountryUSPSWed, 22 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1524646/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/22/chrysler-unveils-new-electric-minivan-for-u-s-postal-service-du/1524646/article-detail.xml 1524646 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/usps1_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/usps1_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler turns green with ENVI]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/chrysler-turns-green-with-envi/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/chrysler-turns-green-with-envi/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/chrysler-turns-green-with-envi/#commentsFiled under: ,

Chrysler's efforts to develop more environmentally-friendly vehicles have been distinctly overshadowed by the drama of their divorce from Chrysler and that 800lb green gorilla called Volt. New CEO Bob Nardelli is continuing to shake things up, though. Just a week after hiring Jim Press away from Toyota, Chrysler has set up a new group called ENVI.

ENVI is a skunk works project that will focus on the development of electrically-driven vehicles for Chrysler. It'll operate semi-independently within Chrysler to bring together all the technologies that are being worked on in various corners of the Auburn Hills tech center. Lou Rhodes has been appointed President of ENVI and he will report directly to Product Development VP Frank Klegon and Purchasing chief Simon Boag. The Chrysler press release is after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler turns green with ENVI

Chrysler turns green with ENVI originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electrically driven vehiclesElectricallyDrivenVehiclesenvilou rhodesLouRhodesFri, 14 Sep 2007 09:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/989037/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/09/14/chrysler-turns-green-with-envi/989037/article-detail.xml 989037 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/rhodes_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/rhodes.jpg -1 2