Chrysler Gets an Electric Car Partner : Autos: Westinghouse and the car maker will put $10 million into boosting acceleration and range.
Chrysler Corp., turning up the heat in the race to develop a practical electric vehicle, announced a multimillion-dollar joint project with Westinghouse Electric Corp. on Tuesday to improve such vehicles’ performance.
The program is aimed at developing an electric vehicle--most likely a van or minivan but possibly a passenger car--for production and sale in the mid-1990s, said Jean Mallebay-Vacqueur, Chrysler’s general manager for special projects engineering.
Westinghouse engineering executive L. E. (Ted) Lesster said the two companies will put about $10 million into the effort.
The project is intended to develop an advanced electric motor and power controller that will boost acceleration and operating range between charges in Chrysler electric vehicles--two key limitations.
The goal is to achieve acceleration from standstill to 60 m.p.h. in under 15 seconds and to extend vehicle operating range to 200 miles by the late 1990s using current battery technology, Mallebay-Vacqueur said. The program will also work on vehicle design, reliability, weight, noise and cost.
The range improvement, if achieved, would be a major advance.
Current prototype electric vehicles have a maximum range of 120 miles between charges, and observers have argued that no significant improvements will be gained until new batteries are invented.
When pressed, Lesster acknowledged that the 200-mile range would probably be achieved only with the help of an advanced battery.
General Motors Corp.’s prototype Impact electric car can already accelerate from standstill to 60 m.p.h. in about 8 seconds. GM has said it will produce its Impact car commercially in the mid-1990s.
Chrysler has developed prototype electric minivans, and Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW and other auto makers have electric vehicle programs of their own. Clean air rules will require the sale of at least some electric vehicles in California by 1998.
