In the wake of ever-increasing hybrid and other alternative engine vehicle infiltrating the automotive industry, Chrysler has announced it’s working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to introduce a hydraulic hybrid system to hopefully use on its Town & C0untry minivan.
Chrysler is the only major automaker in the U.S. market without a hybrid offering.
The announcement came at a joint appearance by Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
The project, according to a Reuters report, comes as automakers work to meet strict new fuel economy standards expected to take effect after 2016. The EPA has worked with supplier Eaton Corp to develop a hydraulic hybrid system now being tested in heavy work trucks as a way to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
the Toyota Prius, the most popular hybrid and other manufacturers’ cars and trucks, use conventional hybrids engines, which operate on batteries to lessen the burden of combustion engines.
Neither Chrysler nor the EPA announced any time frame for the potential use of the new engine.
Article Last Updated: January 19, 2011.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
