Chrysler to Build A Battery-Powered Electric Car by 2012

Chrysler Group LLCsaid this week that it's going to roll out a battery-powered electric vehiclebased on the Fiat 500 platform in 2012.

Known asthe Fiat 500EV, the new car will use no internal combustion engine, propellingitself exclusively on the power derived from a lithium-ion battery. Like theconventional Fiat 500, it will be a two-door vehicle seating four.

"It'ssomething that a person could use every day as a commuter, without the rangeanxiety," said Nick Cappa, a spokesman for Chrysler.

A Chryslerpress release said the 500EV's powertrain will be composed of three mainparts: a high-power electric powertrain module, an advanced lithium-ionbattery and an EV control unit to manage power flows. All powertrainengineering and vehicle development will take place at Chrysler Groupheadquarters in Auburn, MI. A price for the vehicle has not yet beendetermined.

Cappa toldDesign News the vehicle "will probably have a range in the vicinity of 80to 100 miles." The lithium-ion batteries for the new car will most likely bebuilt by A123 Systems, a U.S.-basedbattery maker.

Cappa also said Chrysler isworking with partners - presumably state agencies and utilities - on solvingthe grid-related issues.

"With aninternal combustion engine vehicle, you can pull over and fill your car withgasoline in a few minutes," Cappa said. "You can't do that with a battery rightnow, and Chrysler doesn't build charging stations or electrical equipment. Butif we can work with the electric companies to help develop the technology toenable (faster charging), it would be a step forward."

AlthoughChrysler did not state how fast they hope to recharge, competing EV buildershave said they hope to team up with utilities to develop 440V public chargingstations that could recharge vehicles to an 80-percent level in as little as 25minutes.

Chrysler,which has a large percentage of trucks in its lineup, said the Fiat 500fit its needs for a city-type EV. "As far as building a daily commuter car,this vehicle meets the criteria and expectations most customers would have fora pure EV," Cappa said.

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