Chrysler + Realistically Available Hybrid Vehicle = Pipe + Dream

Although I doubt Chrysler is serious about anything other than bankruptcy, it would be awesome if they surprised America and these things just showed up on dealer lots one day.

"Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press says some dealers have seen advanced prototypes of the company's plug-in hybrids, and according to the Los Angeles Times, Press claims to have actually driven "producible prototypes.."

"According to Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa, the first vehicles out of Envi will have an electric-only range of 40 miles."


Image courtesy Chrysler.

That vehicle was at the All Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle PA this year inb early July.

Carlisle 2008 078 pictures from car shows photos on webshots

We can only hope this thing is ready to fly.

I like the looks -- except for the rather massive grill up front.

40 miles. Hmm. Sounds familiar.

I'd love to see Chrysler pull this one off, but I don't know that I'd be in the first group to buy one.

I'm usually left rather bored by car looks in general (Prius gratefully excluded) but this car I like. Amazing that it comes from Chrysler.

At least the designisn't a complete Prius copy like the HIH II.

I'd buy it. My wife's Neon has been bulletproof so far and if that plugin really needed some work I just happen to know a few people. Don't forget that Chrysler is not under the pressure of being a public company. The guys at the top get to really call the shots and IMO that's the only way that Chrysler is going to make it. You can see it already bu them dumping unpopular models (Magnum, PT vert, Sebring sedan, Crossfire). It will take years to get them on the right track though.

Man, that car takes "cab forward" to new levels.

I'd buy one for sure. I refuse to buy another gas only vehicle. Hopefully all electric and/or hydrogen will be a viable option for lease or purchase nation wide in the next few years.

Where is all of that hydrogen going to come from?
(keep in mind that there are a few hundred million automobiles on the roads world-wide, every day)

(once the regenerative-braking technologies improve significantly over the next few years, "mpg" will increase significantly. I put "mpg" in quotations because as we develop alternative sources of energy, it is the joules of energy that we will be concerned with. So, once regenerative braking improves significantly and vehicles become much more efficient, where will the "small" remaining amount of energy come from? I'm thinking batteries, with the electricity coming from solar, wind, tides, solar-thermal, [nuclear may always exist], and other sources that do not depend on hydrocarbons. Perhaps biofuel (energy derived from the sun) could be used in backup generators.

re: "Press didn't elaborate on a timeline for releasing the plug-ins -- which further makes us wonder how real they are -- but Reuters says Envi should have its first product in showrooms within three to five years."

--> although it would be nice if it happens it won't be anytime soon. In 3-5 years the hybrid landscape probably be a lot different from today likely with a lot more participants and more advanced technologies.


YouTube - Richard Kiley - Impossible Dream

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[SIZE=-1]www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCL4cA7hhPo[/SIZE]

I really like that design. I think it would appeal to a wide swath of adult drivers.

Doesn't it seem like all the auto companies are releasing concept photos, pressers and promising to be designing electric or PHEH cars? The release dates, when given, are always years down the road, and if you look at the history of concepts, they have disappeared to be replaced by new concepts at the next car show. The Detroit show is full of these concepts that make the masses drool, and sing the praises of the designers as they continue to buy the current offerings that barely make the gov't gas standards.
This sounds like more of the same. I'll believe it when I see it, including the PHEV Prius.

How much do you expect ?

I'm skeptical that size and cost would allow generators much over 30 kW, and I think efficiency would top out at 50%, and perhaps closer to 35%.

I'm happy to learn differently.

Boasting that you're going to have a super-powerful PHEV muscle car in three to five years doesn't mean much at all without telling us what its EV range is going to be. And boasting about 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds means nothing because that's probably a humongous gas-guzzling V-8 that's going to provide that power. IOW this could be a real gas guzzler with something like an IMA and regenerative braking and no EV mode at all.