The Chrysler Group is often questioned for their lack of
hybrid vehicles in showrooms around the country but the company is currently
working on building a fleet of plug-in hybrid vehicles for commercial test use
around the country including the Ram 1500 and, more recently, the new Chrysler
Town & Country minivan.These
vehicles are being distributed to municipalities and utility providers around
the US as part of a two year test program in cooperation with the US Department
of Energy.
The new Chrysler Town & Country plug-in hybrid minivans
have been issued to groups in North Carolina and Arizona as part of the program
to put these vehicles through the paces of real-world use without the risk of
any issues stemming from usage by the general public.Giving these vehicles to the various groups
for testing with help from the US DOE, Chrysler can put their hybrid
drivetrains to the most vigorous of tests without having to worry about turning
off consumers due to any issues that may arise.
The new plug-in hybrid Chrysler Town & Country is
powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 mated to a dual-mode hybrid transmission that
is driven by a 12.1kWh lithium ion battery that produces a total output of 290
horsepower and a total range of 700 miles. The high voltage electrical system can be fully charged in just 2-4
hours using a 220 volt outlet while a traditional 110 outlet will take 8 to 15
hours.
While the Chrysler Group will still likely be questioned for
their lack of hybrid vehicles in the consumer market, the Chrysler Town &
Country hybrid and the Ram 1500 hybrid are signs that Chrysler is working on a
thriving hybrid program that is bound to hit dealerships – sooner or later.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
The Chrysler Group is often questioned for their lack of