Bankrupt Chrysler LLC, already the recipient of more than $8 billion in government largess, has submitted proposals asking for $224 million from the Department of Energy to fund research into electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
Chrysler
in a statement announcing the submissions said it and partners are asking for the matching funds as part of its $448 million plan to bring electric vehicles to market. If approved, the funds would be used to build a demonstration fleet of minivan and pickup hybrids and a plug-in minivan, as well as a new technology and manufacturing center in Michigan. As many as 165 vehicles from that demonstration fleet would go to the U.S. Postal Service to test whether electric vehicles are suitable for use in mail delivery.
The application is part of a
broader push by automakers toward electric vehicle technologies.
Chrysler is in bankruptcy court Wednesday seeking approval of a plan that would allow it to take its strong assets out of Chapter 11 and into a new venture with Fiat SpA. Central to the government's vision for a revitalized Chrysler is a more fuel-efficient fleet. Since it is the White House's vision, perhaps it only makes sense for the Department of Energy to help pay the development costs. -
Lou Whiteman
Lou Whiteman is a senior writer covering the automotive, transportation and industrial sectors. Follow him on Twitter @louwhiteman
Join Corporate Dealmaker's LinkedIn forum
Juergen Lasowski
And the winners are...
