Ever notice that lots of songs mention pickup trucks? It's not just country music, either. It's everywhere, and with the test fleet that Chrysler's been working on, even you may find yourself singing about a pickup truck in the near future.
Chrysler recently revealed its plans to deliver five Ram 1500 plug-in hybrid pickups (dubbed PHEVs) to Nevada-based utility NV Energy. The delivery marks the beginning of the automaker's plan to test the trucks for fuel economy and emissions performance as well as their impact on the local electric grid and more.
Skokie Dodge dealers have been waiting for a more environmentally friendly pickup, and now they may really have something to look forward to, and possibly even sing about. Dodge Ram Evanston drivers are eager to hear the results for the test fleet of plug-in hybrid pickups, which represent only a small portion of the 140 vehicles that will enter a national demonstration focused on the potential of plug-in vehicles.
The demonstration is set to span the next three years and is funded in part by a $48 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Department of Energy's Transportation Electrification Initiative.
But the testing doesn't stop there. Before it can make its way through a summer day in Skokie, the Dodge Ram plug-in needs to prove itself on a hot-weather test in Yuma, Ariz. Data from other demonstrations have been collected from cities throughout the country, including Albany, N.Y.; Auburn Hills, Mich.; Boston; Charlotte, N.C; Houston; Sacramento and San Francisco. Chrysler representatives report that these demonstrations generate important information about the vehicles' battery life and charging efficiency.
The 12.9kWhr lithium ion battery pack and accompanying 6.6-kilowatt on-board charger are certainly a new step for the Dodge Ram, and Evanston is ready to plug in and take off with the 5.7-liter V8 engine. The pickup's AC power can generate up to 6.6 kilowatts and its regenerative braking captures even more energy. Drivers can even disable the front wheels of the truck's four-wheel drive in order to boost fuel economy.
Fleet tests may continue for Chrysler, which plans to move forward with 25 Town & Country minivans later this year. Now that's music to a driver's ears.