Ten plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) will be supplied to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) as part of a demonstration project by Chrysler. The fleet is part of a larger national demonstration fleet that’s being used to evaluate customer usage, drive cycles, charging, thermal management, fuel economy, emissions and the impact these vehicles have on the region’s electric grid.
According to Bellingham Chrysler Dealers, Chrysler has already delivered advanced Ram 1500 PHEV trucks to the city of Yuma, Ariz., to take full advantage of hot weather and conduct thermal testing in the desert southwest. Other cities that have received the demonstration Ram 1500 pickups include San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif., Albany, N.Y., and Charlotte, N.C.
“Cities have been carefully selected to help the Chrysler Group LLC collect a wide range of data,” explained Abdullah Bazzi, senior manager of Chrysler’s advanced hybrid vehicle project. “Boston offers heavy traffic and urban driving that are ideal city test cycles. The constant charging will allow us to measure the impact on battery life and charging efficiency.”
In Massachusetts, Ram 1500 plug-in electric hybrid test trucks will be used to evaluate city drive cycles, charging performance, fuel economy and real-world performance. The MBTA is also eager to take advantage of unique benefits of the trucks’ electrified powertrains.
Jon Davis, MBTA acting general manager said, “We are underway with a three-year educational opportunity to better understand the benefits of advanced technology and the importance of supporting smart energy saving investments.”
Powering the Ram 1500 PHEV is a 5.7-liter HEMI equipped with a Fuel Saver technology that improves fuel efficiency at highway speeds by shutting down fuel delivery to up to four cylinders. Additionally, these vehicles feature a liquid-cooled 12.9kWhr lithium ion battery pack and a 6.6 kilowatt (kW) on-board charger.
According to Chrysler Des Moines, in addition to the Ram 1500 PHEV, Chrysler is preparing to launch a test fleet of Chrysler Town & Country minivans with plug-in hybrid technology later this year.
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