Chrysler, EPA team up on new hybrid system
Chrysler Group announced Wednesday that it is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adapt a hydraulic hybrid system for possible use in an upcoming version of its popular minivan.
The announcement came at a joint appearance by Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
Marchionne told reporters that a hydraulic hybrid was especially well suited for large vehicles in city driving. It is also much cheaper than a conventional electric hybrid, he noted.
"Electric cars aren't the whole answer," Marchionne said. "The cost of this technology is much less than an electric hybrid… This is real, and it does work. We just need to find out how it performs on the road."
The partners will start with a Chrysler Town & Country minivan equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. Under the minivan's floor, they will install a tank filled with hydraulic fluid.
Every time the vehicle brakes, the pump will use that energy to pressurize the fluid in the tank up to 5,000 pounds per square inch. The pressurized fluid subsequently will be released to operate a hydraulic motor, which will provide power to the front or rear axle.
According to Chrysler, the system could improve fuel economy as much as 30 to 35 percent, and up to 60 percent in city driving. Chrysler will complete its tests in 2012.
If the hydraulic hybrid proves to be practical, it could be used in minivans, SUVs or pickups. Chrysler would license the technology from the EPA, which developed it.
The project comes as automakers scramble to meet strict new fuel economy standards expected to take effect after 2016. Chrysler, which is operating under the management control of Fiat SpA, is the only major automaker in the U.S. market without a hybrid offering.
The EPA has worked with supplier Eaton Corp. to develop a hydraulic hybrid system now being tested in heavy work trucks as a way to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The government agency is spending $2 million to fund its test project with Chrysler.
Conventional hybrids like the market-leading Prius from Toyota Motor Corp. use batteries to store power and reduce the work done by the combustion engine.
Questions and Answers
As I check the daily news each day and read about unemployment and closed businesses, I can't help but wonder if we'll ever kick this recession to the curb.
There may be many different reasons why car recalls would need to be initiated. For Chrysler, it is due to the error of employees that put more than 11,000 vehicles in need of a recall status.
Chrysler is planning to roll out as many as nine new models by 2010 including its big 300 and Charger.
Renault may be the latest company making a pitch for Chrysler LLC, possibly buying 20% of the American automaker.
In olden days horse driven carriages and walking was the means of transportation. But as years passed, with a lot of efforts and brain work of many people, the modern day car was produced. The evolution of cars began with steam engines and moved on to fuel and gas powered engines and millions of automobiles are on the road today. Owning a car is no more a luxury these days.
With the way the economy is going today, it is no wonder more and more people are looking for ways to save money. This is especially true with vehicles. It is getting more and more costly to drive to and from work as well as taking the kids to school or just running errands around town.
Bentley has proven to be the extravagant vehicle for giving the classy touch. And these cars are used for family day out or for business purpose also, means multipurpose.
Many people in San Diego, California are very particular when it comes to their vehicles. They fuss about the way these look, what kind of model and type, or how fast these are.
Windshield wiper blades are essential parts of safety. They give the driver a clear and unobstructed view of the street especially during winter and rainy season. Whenever small droplets of water or snow get on accumulated on the windshield, the wiper blades wipe the windshield and keep it clean. Different kinds of windshield wipers are available in places like Riverside windshield replacement.
Windshield wiper blades are very important since they ensure safety of the vehicle, the driver and the people inside the vehicle. They protect you from rid of snow, rain, dirt and dust from the windshield of your vehicle. They are made of flexible and thin rubber material. It is always essential to get the best type of wiper for your windshield from windshield repair Sacramento firms.
Car transport companies are doing a roaring business these days. After all an increasing number of people are realizing the importance of these car transporters and hiring their services to get their car moved to the new location.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said today that electric systems and electromagnetic interference did not play a role in unintended acceleration involving Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles. It was a major victory for Toyota, which has sought to recover from a recall crisis and accidents allegedly linked to unintended acceleration in some of its top-selling models.
Chrysler Group and Fiat Auto could become one company that could be based in the United States, Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told an industry conference here today. That won't happen until after Chrysler refinances the U.S. government loans that have kept it from being profitable and until there is an initial public stock offering. Marchionne hopes both those things will happen this year.
Toyota was awarded $2.6 million by an arbitrator in the company's dispute with a former in-house lawyer who was found to have disclosed confidential business information.
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1, and currently officially referred to as the FIA Formula One World Championship,[2] is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants' cars must comply
Discuss this Article
