Canadian battery maker Electrovaya has been chosen by Chrysler Group LLC as the battery supplier for 140 Ram plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in a demonstration program.
The Ram PHEV features Chrysler Group’s 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with a two mode hybrid transmission and a 12KwHr lithium ion battery from Electrovaya. The vehicle is capable of up to 20 miles of zero-emission, pure-electric range without the need for gasoline. An overall fuel economy improvement more than 65 percent is expected for average drive cycles.
A total of 140 Ram PHEVs will be built for a demonstration program running for a period of three years at various geographic and climatic locations across the US. More than 21 Chrysler Group partners across the U.S., including utility companies, government agencies and Universities will independently test the Ram PHEV and provide valuable data for the advancement of the technology.
Chrysler has been approved for a grant of up to $48 million (U.S.) as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s vehicle electrification program.
Electrovaya makes lithium ion batteries and other products for transportation, consumer and health care markets. The company was founded in 1996.
