A fleet of advanced, Dodge Sprinter plug-in hybrid delivery vans will be operating within the United States, powered by lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries developed by the Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions (JCS) joint venture. The test fleet is expected to usher in a new age of extremely fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, urban transportation.
“Advances in Lithium-ion battery technology are bringing the reality of plug-in hybrids closer to commercialisation,” said Mary Ann Wright, who leads the JCS joint venture and is vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls’ hybrid battery business.
According to Ms Wright, the Dodge Sprinter is an ideal vehicle to carry a large battery pack and still have ample room readily accessible for use as a delivery vehicle. Fleets of Sprinter plug-in hybrids were put into service in Los Angeles, New York and Kansas City in 2006 during the first phase of Chrysler and Daimler’s plug-in hybrid development programme.
Powered by Johnson Controls-Saft nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and Li-ion battery packs, the Sprinter vans have provided valuable data to accelerate the development of future battery technology. The Li-ion battery packs in Sprinter plug-in hybrids will be 47% lighter compared with previous Ni-MH systems, and will deliver more power than today’s conventional hybrid batteries.