Will they be around to build it, so I can test drive one?
Now this is the kind of hybrid I could use. Given the shaky ground that the U.S. automakers stand on... well, I'd love to be able to have one of these. But I'd want one as a Dodge Grand Caravan, instead of a Chrysler Town & Country. The Dodge version is (or at least looks) more like a pickup truck. :) This is slated to come out next year.
The electric engine runs at 268 hp. Similar to Chevy's upcoming VOLT model, the electric motor runs for about 40 miles (on a full charge, presumably done overnight). Then, a 98 hp gas engine kicks in to recharge and run along with the electric part. That would give it up to 366 hp. Hopefully the torque would be rated at well over 300 lb. per ft.
On one tank of gas, it gets about 400 miles. Aack... this needs to be improved upon. Even the current gas powered Toyota Sienna with all-wheel-drive gets at least 420 miles hwy (according to the 2009 US EPA rating). The Chrysler/Dodge probably does better in city mileage. That's the weird thing about a lot of the gas/electric hybrids; many of them do better in city driving than highway cruising. But then again... most of my driving is more or less around town. (I get about 13-15 mpg city with my '98 model, and 21-23 mpg hwy.) Still, Chrysler could do better than 400 miles with this mothership, LOL.
I might have to wait another year or two for this one to see any improvements.
http://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/0901_2010_chrysler_town_and_country_ev/index.html
The electric engine runs at 268 hp. Similar to Chevy's upcoming VOLT model, the electric motor runs for about 40 miles (on a full charge, presumably done overnight). Then, a 98 hp gas engine kicks in to recharge and run along with the electric part. That would give it up to 366 hp. Hopefully the torque would be rated at well over 300 lb. per ft.
On one tank of gas, it gets about 400 miles. Aack... this needs to be improved upon. Even the current gas powered Toyota Sienna with all-wheel-drive gets at least 420 miles hwy (according to the 2009 US EPA rating). The Chrysler/Dodge probably does better in city mileage. That's the weird thing about a lot of the gas/electric hybrids; many of them do better in city driving than highway cruising. But then again... most of my driving is more or less around town. (I get about 13-15 mpg city with my '98 model, and 21-23 mpg hwy.) Still, Chrysler could do better than 400 miles with this mothership, LOL.
I might have to wait another year or two for this one to see any improvements.
Click to viewhttp://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/0901_2010_chrysler_town_and_country_ev/index.html