Daily Auto News Ram Hybrid Cancelled, Electric Fiat 500 Coming
Daily Auto News
Dodge has decided to cancel its Ram 1500 two-mode hybrid truck.
Autoblog Green explains, “The Ram two-mode hybrid was scheduled for release as a 2011 model. We even have shots of the truck in testing from a year ago. As recently as a few months back, Chrysler insisted that the program was still under way and on track to hit its target release date. Then, just weeks ago, news surfaced temporarily confirming that the hybrid Ram was still on track – in fact a production schedule was even laid out showing an expected production date of November of this year.”
But, PickupTrucks.com reports, “Chrysler has canceled plans to sell a gas-electric hybrid version of the Ram 1500, according to a press release issued this morning by the company.” The reasoning was simple: “Chrysler wasn’t sure the Ram Hybrid could be successful in the market based on slow sales of GM’s Two Mode hybrid pickups.”
GM currently builds a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid and a GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid. Despite cancelling the two-mode Ram 1500 Hybrid, Dodge received a $48 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a fleet of plug-in Ram hybrids. Those trucks, though they won’t be available to consumers, will be used to demonstrate ways to speed the development of electric vehicles.
However, the move doesn’t mean Chrysler, and parent company Fiat, is abandoning alternative fuel cars for consumers.
Reuters writes, “Chrysler will introduce an all-electric Fiat 500 to the U.S. market in 2012.” They add, “The electric Fiat 500 will follow the gasoline-powered version of the compact car into the U.S. market and arrive in showrooms at least a year after the all-electric Nissan Leaf, which is to debut in December 2010.”
Chrysler’s announcement of the 500 EV didn’t include any information on the car’s range, when it will be in U.S. dealerships, or what it will cost. Autoblog says, “We do know that the powerplant will be comprised of three main systems – an advanced lithium-ion battery, high-power electric powertrain module and an EV control unit to manage overall power flow. The 500EV will be developed and engineered at Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.”
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