| Car buyers around the world are now looking for fuel | | | | nickel-metal hydride battery. This means that the plug-in |
| efficient vehicles, and this demand has led car | | | | vehicles will also weigh less when compared to a |
| manufacturers to develop fuel efficient vehicles. | | | | similar vehicle equipped with a nickel-metal hydride |
| DaimlerChrysler, one of the major players in the global | | | | battery pack. The lighter the vehicle, the less power it |
| auto scene, is currently expanding its advanced | | | | needs to drive it which means that the switch to |
| propulsion technology program to include plug-in hybrid | | | | lithium-ion batteries will indirectly reduce the amount of |
| electric vehicles. The newest addition to the group's | | | | fuel consumed by the internal combustion engine. |
| lineup of fuel efficient vehicle is the plug-in Dodge | | | | The development of batteries is the most common |
| Sprinter hybrid electric vehicle. | | | | issue being looked into by car manufacturers |
| Through the first quarter of 2008 from today, twenty | | | | developing hybrid electric vehicles. Mark Chernoby, the |
| of the aforementioned vehicles will be tested by | | | | Vice President for Advanced Vehicle Engineering for |
| consumers in the United States. DaimlerChrysler is the | | | | the Chrysler Group, says that: "For plug-in hybrid |
| only car maker to evaluate their plug-in hybrid vehicles | | | | technology to move forward, a dramatic leap in |
| by letting their customers themselves have a go at it. | | | | battery technology is necessary." He further |
| Four of the said vehicles are already in the hands of | | | | emphasized the battery technology being used by the |
| customers and are being tested for their real-world | | | | Dodge Sprinter plug-in hybrid. "The energy storage |
| performance. These vehicles feature advanced | | | | systems in the Dodge Sprinter PHEV concept fleet will |
| battery technology and a hybrid drivetrain configuration | | | | provide valuable field experience on the possibilities |
| which pertains to an electric motor that provides the | | | | with lithium-ion battery technology," says Chernoby. |
| additional power to its small internal combustion engine. | | | | The plug-in technology will greatly increase the fuel |
| The vehicles are equipped with a small engine which | | | | efficiency of hybrid vehicles since vehicles with this |
| will be available either in gasoline or diesel fuel | | | | technology can conveniently recharge its battery pack |
| configuration. Of course, diesel engine will give | | | | via a common household power outlet. The plug-in |
| consumers the better fuel efficiency of the two | | | | Dodge Sprinter hybrid is reported to have the ability to |
| engines. Diesel's ability to provide huge amount of | | | | travel up to 20 miles on battery power alone. For |
| energy and its relatively cheaper price compared to | | | | some motorists, that is enough to cover their mileage in |
| gasoline makes it the obvious choice for those who | | | | a day. That means that they may not even consume |
| wants to save cash on the pump. | | | | a drop of fuel in a day. |
| Aside from the efficient gasoline or diesel engines, the | | | | This technology needs more improvements so that |
| plug-in 2007 Dodge Sprinter hybrid will be featuring a | | | | consumers can easily afford these vehicles as they |
| Lithium-ion battery pack. Li-ion as it is called is more | | | | can easily afford to buy replacement Volvo shocks |
| powerful and weighs considerably less than the usual | | | | when the old ones wear out. |