WASHINGTON — Chrysler rolled out all-electric minivan concepts here during the Earth Day celebration and said it plans to provide all-electric Town and Country minivans to the U.S. Postal Service for fleet testing. A retail version of the electric minivan is also being considered.
The minivan fleet for the Postal Service will be the largest program yet for Chrysler's ENVI division, which is charged with developing alternatively powered vehicles. Chrysler has had a long relationship with the Postal Service, noting that more than 10,000 of its minivans are used to carry the mail.
"We are excited at the prospect of continuing our relationship by working to deliver alternative-energy postal delivery vehicles of the future," said Lou Rhodes, ENVI president.
Expect to see the electric minivans in Michigan, New York and North Carolina. Chrysler is working with local electric utilities to install charging stations in these areas. It has also applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation's electrification stimulus program for a federal grant that would set up a nationwide demonstration fleet with the U.S. Postal Service, it said.
Inside Line says: The wags are asking if this electric minivan can be recharged in sleet or snow. But it should be real-world proof of an electric vehicle's workhorse capability. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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