Chrysler and Fiat will not develop any more electrified powertrains until consumers will be willing to pay for the technology, says company executive Bob Lee. The Fiat and Chrysler global powertrain boss told Autonews that the two automakers will instead focus on diesels and downsized turbocharged gasoline engines in North America.
According to Lee, consumers don’t value hybrids and other electrified vehicles enough to pay for the added cost of technologies including battery packs, electric motors and chargers.
“Many customers want to reduce CO2, but they aren’t willing to change their lifestyle or pay the cost – yet,” Lee said, adding that the situation could remain unchanged over the next 10 years. The executive believes diesels and downsized turbocharged gasoline engines are the fastest ways for Chrysler to improve its fleet’s fuel economy.
The only electrified model sold by Chrysler and Fiat is the battery powered 500e (pictured), which is available exclusively in California. The two automakers don’t make any hybrid vehicles. Chrysler has already started offering Fiat diesel engines on its vehicles, with the latest being the new 240hp 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Two more Chrysler vehicles will get diesels this year – the Ram ProMaster cargo van this summer and Ram 1500 pickup truck in late autumn. Both will use the same 3.0-liter diesel as the Grand Cherokee.
Lee says diesel engines are better than hybrids because they offer better performance while delivering roughly the same fuel economy.
By Dan Mihalascu
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