Jeep Wrangler, GEM exempt from new California rules

The California Air Resources Board announced that vehicles with soft plastic windows, such as those in the Jeep Wrangler, will be exempt from new regulations that require thermal-control windows. The regulations, to be phased in starting in model year 2012, are designed to reduce vehicle emissions by cutting the load on air conditioners.
Due to [...]

Chrysler announces one EV for 2010

Chrysler has sent out a brochure which proclaims, “Watch for one of these exciting new models to appear in 2010.” Pictured are the Dodge EV, Chrysler EV, and Jeep EV – modified versions of a Lotus (Dodge Circuit), Town & Country minivan, and Jeep Wrangler.

The Dodge and Chrysler are most likely to reach production quickly. [...]

Ontario pushing electric cars, minivans

“Mooseater” passed along a news bulletin which announced a series of measures called “1 in 20 by 2020″ designed to result in 5% of the province’s vehicles being electric within 11 years.  Ontario is home to the Canadian headquarters of Chrysler, GM, and Ford.
Included in the plan is a mass purchase of electric vehicles for [...]

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 [...]

Chrysler unveils a new electric minivan (updated)

Chrysler brought out a new electric minivan today – their first since the 1990s, and like the original TEVan and EPIC, designed to be sold to fleets. Many of the original Chrysler electric minivans were eventually auctioned or sold to individuals and some are still on the road today.
Today, Chrysler showed off four all-electric Chrysler [...]

Battery maker gets $100MM grant

 
Following an agreement by Chrysler to produce electric vehicles using A123Systems batteries, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has given A123Systems $100 million to build a battery manufacturing facility in Michigan.

The heart of ENVI’s battery system is a scalable battery module, which can be adjusted to fit the widely varying shapes available in each vehicle – [...]

Chrysler selects battery maker

Chrysler has selected A123Systems to supply batteries for the first ENVI electric vehicles due to make their debut next year.
“This is a great example of two American companies working together to put cutting-edge technology on the road,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President-Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “The most significant challenge to electric vehicles is battery [...]