Chrysler 2011 Annual Report Download - page 63

Report on
Operations
62
Research and
Innovation
Axles. Chrysler also has a commercial agreement with an affiliate of ZF for production of lightweight axles at
the new facility in Marysville (Michigan, U.S.). This will give Chrysler access to advanced axle technologies that
would otherwise require significant time and capital to develop. The proprietary ZF axles weigh up to 34% less
than comparable axles with a resulting improvement in fuel consumption of around 2%. In 2011, the front and
rear ZF axles have been incorporated on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Dodge Durango and the Ram pick-up
truck.
Also in 2011, Chrysler began to produce the only all-wheel drive passenger vehicles that incorporate front
axle disconnect technology. This feature, which was incorporated in the all-wheel drive versions of the Dodge
Charger and the Chrysler 300, automatically changes the vehicle’s mode between two-wheel and all-wheel
as changes in driving conditions occur. When the axle is disconnected, the number of rotating components
in the driveline is reduced, thus enhancing fuel efficiency, safety and performance.
Hybrid Propulsion and Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Research activities include development of technologies that can be used in a range of electric vehicles, including
conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fully electric and range-extended electric vehicles. A conventional hybrid
vehicle includes both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to propel the vehicle, and the battery
is charged using the combustion engine. A plug-in hybrid vehicle is similar to a conventional hybrid vehicle,
but the battery can also be charged through an external power cord. A fully electrified vehicle contains only an
electric motor to propel the vehicle that is charged by a power cord, and a range-extended vehicle is a fully
electrified vehicle that also contains a generator to power the vehicle when the batteries run low. With respect
to these advanced technologies, Chrysler is creating modular solutions that can be utilized across various types
of electrified vehicles.
Additionally, significant effort is focused on optimizing existing combustion engine technology to make it
synergistic with hybrid electric vehicle technology, and addressing cost reduction strategies to ensure the
affordability of such vehicles in the future.
In the U.S., Chrysler is currently developing a fully-electrified version of the Fiat 500 with a 100 mile range, using
battery technology developed by Chrysler Group. Due to its compact size and weight, the Fiat 500 is particularly