Chrysler Group LLC has been hard at work recently to put more and more of their Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) into fleet work. The next battling ground for the experimental machines will be the sun-baked state of Arizona as three Chrysler Town & Country PHEVs have been sent off to Yuma. As they roam the extreme temperatures of the desert, the vans won’t be given any special treatment as they will be fully emerged in the fleet rotation so Chrysler can see how they perform in various climates. With the mercury reading well over 100 degrees for the most of the upcoming months, a true test of the lithium-ion battery system will be put into play.
Apart of a venture with the U.S. Department of Energy, the PHEV Town & Country minivans are currently for fleet use only. They use a combination of the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6, a two-mode hybrid transmission and a liquid cooled, lithium-ion battery to power the drive motor. With a total driving range of up to 700 miles, the 12.1 KWh battery helps deliver a total output of 290 horsepower, which can be charged in as little as two hours. Two modes are available to refill the battery: a 220 volt Level 2 system and a 110 volt Level 1 unit. Charging is not a requirement, but can reduce overall fuel use. “The City of Yuma is unique due to the extreme high ambient temperature,” said Abdullah Bazzi, senior manager of the Chrysler Group’s advanced hybrid vehicle project.”
Source: Chrysler
