Chrysler applies for electric vehicle grants

According to the Scoop, Chrysler has submitted three proposals for $448-million in grants to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to rapidly bring electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles to market. The proposals fall under the DOE’s Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative, and its Transportation Electrification Initiative. The programs represent a 50/50 cost-share.

John Bozzella, Senior Vice President—External Affairs and Public Policy, Chrysler LLC, proclaimed, “Without U.S. innovation and production capacity, we will simply trade batteries for oil in the pursuit of transportation energy.” China has been actively seeking and developing sources of lithium, which is unevenly distributed with large supplies discovered in Asia, South America, and North America.

The $365-million submission for the Transportation Electrification Initiative would to establish a nationwide demonstration fleet of more than 365 test-fleet vehicles, using 100 minivans and 100 Rams across a range of climates and customer types. Partnerships with utilities, governments, and companies have already been established. The remainder of the 365 vehicles would be minivans used by the Post Office in delivering mail in four regions; agreements with utilities have already been established for charging.

Another grant for up to $83 million would establish a new technology and manufacturing center in Michigan, to house development, testing and electric-drive component manufacturing, along with final assembly of electric vehicles. The complex would be functional by 2010 and produce more than 20,000 units per year.