Chrysler's 800-unit hybrid program

Oops. When we at Up to Speed said that Chrysler didn't make any hybrids, we were wrong.

This morning, the Big Three execs showed up in Washington in alternative powertrain-dappled glory. GM's Rick Wagoner rolled up in a Chevy Cruze prototype stapled to a Chevy Volt powerplant. Chrysler's Bob Nardelli arrived riding shotgun in a Jeep Wrangler electric vehicle, and Ford's Alan Mulally turned up in a Ford Escape hybrid.

Wagoner drove most of the way from Detroit in a Chevy Malibu hybrid, then switched over to the Volt-Cruz Frankenstein a mile or two from the Capitol. Nardelli drove a Chrysler Aspen hybrid before switching to the Jeep at the end of the trip.

The choice of the Aspen struck us as ironic because we said Chrysler would not be producing the thing commercially since it is closing the plant where they are made.

Wrong, said Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau. In fact, Chrysler is cranking out the Aspen hybrid...

and its Dodge Durango hybrid sister and will continue to do so until the Newark, Del., plant that makes them closes  Dec. 19. "The fact is that we are building them," said Denau, who conceded that after that date, the two vehicles would become extinct.

So how many of the hybrids will be built when it's all said and done? About 800, Deneau said. 

And how many have made their way to dealership lots to date? "Less than 100," said Stuart Schorr, another Chrysler spokesman.

That volume seems more like a pilot project than a true production run. Heck, General Motors built more of its legendarily scarce EV1 electric cars when it introduced them for a test lease program about a decade ago.

A final comparison. Ford has sold 16,067 of its Escape hybrids through November. With the market set to finish the year around 13 million units this year, Chrysler's hybrids stand a decent chance to grab a .006% share of the overall market.

Our bad.

—Ken Bensinger

Top photo: Bob Nardelli, Chrysler's chairman and chief executive gets out of an electric Jeep Wrangler on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Credit: Kevin Wolf / Associated Press

Bottom photo: A funeral for GM's EV1 electric car.

Credit: Matt Bohling / Sony Pictures Classics

Comments

[pgug49]

And how many of Californias Beloved Testla has rolled off their "Assembly Line" ..... ZERO. Ooops, your bad alright.

[Paul]

I agree with you pgug49. That's about 800 more than has rolled out from all those California hybrid makers. We've been waiting HOW long for those plants to go into production? Enough said. Me bad.

[Jonathan]

You need to know that hybrids and electric cars have high levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) similar to what you get from electric blankets or living near high voltage lines. Measurements vary, but anyone buying cars driven by electric motors should see if there are any EMF measurements for the make and model. Field levels also are known to vary according to seat location in the vehicle. Check it out online--many users have reported illnesses from using the vehicles. In contrast, standard gasoline vehicles have relatively low EMF levels, although this can vary according to accessories used.
Also, ozone can be present--I have not measured this, but I rode in a hybrid minivan in Japan this year and the smell of ozone was overpowering. If ozone is the risk claimed by the AQMD (asthma, lung damage, etc.) it is also something you should look out for.
Based on these factors, I prefer high mpg gasoline or diesel vehicles.

[what?]

A nation of people who are more concerned with style over substance. Doesn't bother anyone that in order to "switch" over to the Volt that stupid car had to be trucked from Detroit? He had to switch over 20 miles out so he had enough power to get it back to the truck. And they wonder why they are going bankrupt...

[Cheryl Berenson]

What's the dust up here? And can't we all just get along? pgug49, I am surprised at you!

[Art Marriott, Seattle]

It's worth noting that while the other CEO's indulged in vehicular sleight-of-hand jocking for the best photo op, Al Mullaly simply climbed into a production Escape and drove to Washington. Most likely it's the rig he usually drives to work.

This is not at all surprising for those of us in the Northwest who watched his career at Boeing. The man's for real.

[OlsonBW]

I'm no fan of Ford after having two clunkers from them. (I learned my lesson and have had no troubles with the Toyotas I've bought. My 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee - I'd rate a C at best.).

GM and Chrysler are absolutely pathetic. They should have shown up in what they drove there like Mullaly from Ford did.

Now if Ford could just get rid of Sync from Microsoft. Until they do, I'm not buying a Ford.

[OlsonBW]

"You need to know that hybrids and electric cars have high levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) similar to what you get from electric blankets or living near high voltage lines."

Jonathan - You need to stop doing drugs or whatever other habits you have that is causing you to have these bizarre ideas.

[Evan]

FYI, Tesla has delivered production vehicles to buying customers.

[Clay]

Wonder which company's PR department came up with the idea in the first place?? On the Volt note, I read on http://www.chevy-volt.net/chevrolet-volt-news.htm that the Volt technology is already being planned for deployment across a variety of next gen Chevy hybrids which may be the saving grace for GM.

This approach is similliar to how Jet Blue only flies 2 types of planes in an effort to keep maintenance costs down and always have spare parts on hand.

[chambo622]

In case you allare not aware Tesla has delivered at least 50 Roadsters and who knows how many more have been produced or are in progress.

Tesla is one of the first true innovators in the electric car field. Others like Fisker are still many months away from conception.

I think that if the big 3 go under, Tesla could become one of the new Big 3 fifty years from now.