Thoughts on the Volt and Renegade

[squat]

Chevy seems to be barreling ahead with the Volt electric car.  You can find out more about it here: http://gm-volt.com/  With the potential to see 100+ mpg I hope this car does well, really well.  Your response to the poll is for this: I am going to assert that Chrysler will have an electric vehicle that uses the same drivetrain that GM is using for the Volt soon after GM releases the Volt. 

Chrysler and GM have been working together on hybrid vehicles for over 5 years now with the Hybrid Tahoe/Silverado and Durango/Aspen/Ram as the fruits of their labor.  If both companies feel that their partnership is advantageous to each other it makes sense for them to continue developing higher MPG drivetrains that the public wants.  Both are working together to develop a 4.0L V6 that I'm also certain will have the same cylinder deactivation technology that's in the larger V8 engines, so why wouldn't they continue that partnership and work on the electric vehicle too?

The Volt will predate any vehicle that Chrysler will put out, but so have the Hybrid vehicles from GM that both companies worked together on.  Each company shares the research but since GM is larger it is able to thoroughly test the new technology faster and get it to market sooner.  That's why GM's Hybrid Tahoe is out almost a year ahead of the Hybrid Durango. 

Now that Chrysler is a private company they seem to be sharing less and less about their upcoming projects.  Just because they haven't announced the sale of a vehicle propelled by an electric motor doesn't mean they aren't 2 years into development on it. 

The Jeep Renegade concept vehicle shown this year uses the same drivetrain as the Volt.  Chrysler substituted a 1.0L diesel for the gasoline motor but the rest is the same.  I doubt that the first electric vehicle from Chrysler will be a Jeep, more likely a passenger car like the Volt.  But the Jeep concept still proves my point.

So am I wrong or right?

[markedman]

You're arguement is solid.  I think that chrysler/gm are working on the same tech with this.  The electric motor/batteries/regenerative braking.  The engine that recharges the batteries could be anything.

[95concord]

I hope so.  GM and Chrysler seem to be working on a lot together recently.  I hope for everyones sake, including the environment, that these cars are a success, a fantastic success.

[dodgerider]

If chrysler and GM are working hand in hand so much then why wouldn't chrysler be touting their version of the volt or the equinox for that matter.  News of a future fuel cell car would certainly lift everyone's spirits about Chrysler.

[dodger098]

If chrysler and GM are working hand in hand so much then why wouldn't chrysler be touting their version of the volt or the equinox for that matter.  News of a future fuel cell car would certainly lift everyone's spirits about Chrysler.

I agree, chrysler the company needs to put out as much as possible to give people an idea that the company is headed for a brighter future. 

[moparman]

If chrysler and GM are working hand in hand so much then why wouldn't chrysler be touting their version of the volt or the equinox for that matter.  News of a future fuel cell car would certainly lift everyone's spirits about Chrysler.

We did see the renegade at the auto show.  And with the new company being private they probably don't want to throw a carrot out there that's years ahead.  They don't have to worry about stock prices so they can continue to work on what'll make them profitable without worrying about making the investors happy.

[gman]

I'm gonna agree with you on this one.  I think that the level of sharing going on between chrysler and gm is high and that both companies will have the same type of vehicle on the road soon.

[NitroNanny]

I'm agreeing based on I want it to happen.  If two major car manufacturers come up with vehicles that get close to 100 mpg gas would go down pretty fast for all of us.

[MegaTruck]

I hope you aren't wrong.  But the past tells me that all the vehicles like this that these companies make, the concepts, almost never go into production.  I doubt the renegade or anything like it will see production.  Sure chrysler might have lifted the tech from GM while working with GM but I doubt they have any plans on using it.  I hope they do, but it doesn't ever work out that way does it?

[gman]

I hope you aren't wrong.  But the past tells me that all the vehicles like this that these companies make, the concepts, almost never go into production.  I doubt the renegade or anything like it will see production.  Sure chrysler might have lifted the tech from GM while working with GM but I doubt they have any plans on using it.  I hope they do, but it doesn't ever work out that way does it?

GM is pushing forward with the Volt, they have a mule out testing the drivetrain right now.

[speedinstyle]

I think this is going to be the future of all cars anyways.  Electric motor powered by a 3-4 cylinder engine.  Trucks might not be able to do this until there are electric motors that are capable of moving them.  But for cars I think everyone would like this, peak torque right away + good mpg = fun car with low cost to operate.

[gman]

I think this is going to be the future of all cars anyways.  Electric motor powered by a 3-4 cylinder engine.  Trucks might not be able to do this until there are electric motors that are capable of moving them.  But for cars I think everyone would like this, peak torque right away + good mpg = fun car with low cost to operate.

In fact they're calling it an electric car because the gas engine could be replaced with anything that'll provide power.  In the future it could be replaced with solar panels or whatever.