Chrysler News: Chrysler: We'll Build Electric Cars.. Sparingly

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

August 13, 2012

Chrysler hasn't been the strongest proponent of electric vehicles since it has been together with Fiat.

"You're not looking at a guy who's as scared as the rest of them. I'm not scared, I just won't do it. I just will not do it. I think we're smoking illegal materials if we think we're going to make those [profitably]," said Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne in a interview with Automobile Magazine back in July.

This might be an odd thing to say since Fiat is working on a 500 EV that will go into production later this year. However, Marchionne has been on record saying the 500 EV will lose money and is a "compliance car", a vehicle that will meet requirements for sales of a certain number of zero-emission vehicles in the state of California.

However it seems Chrysler is taking some small steps off this belief.

“We do believe in electrification, sparingly and for the right kinds of targeted applications. We’re developing technology for commercialization, preparing for the shift when consumers start pulling them into the marketplace,” said Chrysler's vice president and head of engineering for engine and electrified propulsion Bob Lee this past week at the Center for Automotive Research conference in Acme, Michigan.

For the time being, Chrysler will put more focus on diesel, CNG, hybrid powered cars.

Source: Bloomberg

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[G. David Felt]

Yes, I would agree that pure electric is a money looser at this stage, but it is a compliance issue and as such, if a company is to play in all states, then they must comply.

Sad that they could not use CNG auto's to comply since Electric is such a green house gas pig of production.

Edited August 13, 2012 by dfelt

[yougojay]

Not into the idea of electric cars whatsoever...kudos to the companies working on them, tho, everything has to start somewhere. Maybe it's just a me thing, I know I will never get one. I'd rather drive a tiny car with a 3 or 4 banger in it than deal with an electric car. I'll leave the electricity for the heat pump & washing machine. I know when I die, the cars in the garage will have internal combustion engines in them.

[ocnblu]

Agreed. Electricity is for "personal massagers".

[Drew Dowdell]

Everyone is going to need to play in the arena eventually, so might as well start now.

[A Horse With No Name]

Agree, a 500 Electric might be a neat little city car.

[A Horse With No Name]

On 8/13/2012 at 8:16 PM, ocnblu said:

Agreed. Electricity is for "personal massagers".

Apparently you enjoy your Hitachi very well....

...and in a few more years Chryco will build everything sparingly.