Electric vehicle plan not settled
Chrysler's electric vehicle strategy is still under review, but these vehicles will only account for 1-2 percent of total volume initially, executives said.
One of the first applications could be a commercial van from Fiat and marketed under the Ram brand.
In the past, Chrysler has shown electric concepts of Jeeps, minivans and a sports car.
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Electrics from Chrysler
The electric concepts shown by Chrysler over the past couple of years were halo cars. If they don't come to fruition, c'est la vie. Chrysler will, however, have to produce an electric with a reasonable volume at some point. The reason is simple mathematics; EPA mileage ratings for electrics are off the charts, as witnessed by the Volt's 230 mpg. To achieve the newly mandated CAFE standards within the timeframe required, each money-losing Volt can offset 12 profitable Silverados (20 mpg) while still maintaining a fleet average in excess of 36 mpg. If the trucks sold average 15 mpg, the ratio is 9:1 - still pretty good.
That dynamic is a strong motivator for a company like Chrysler where Ram trucks are about the only profitable line going. The way electric "mileage" is measured, rumors of the thirsty car's demise may have been exaggerated.
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