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Unplugged? Overheating batteries cause Chrysler to halt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle program

M-live -- -- AUBURN HILLS, MI- Chrysler Group LLC is halting its test fleets of advanced plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles due to batteries overheating.

According to the Auburn Hills-based automaker, three of the fleet’s 109 pickups equipped with plug-in hybrid powertrains sustained damage when their prototype 12.9-kWh lithium-ion propulsion batteries overheated.

“This action is being taken to build upon the lessons from the initial deployment and to concentrate resources and technical development on a superior battery,” said Michael Duhaime, global director-electrified powertrain propulsion systems, in a statement.

According to Chrysler, a different battery chemistry will be used in the projects' next phase, which will focus on grid interaction and improved safety. The complexity of the engineering

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Submitted Sep 26, 2012 By: fracknsave

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 4:50:43 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse maybe DCJ can learn from it, return to drawing board and come up with something better.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 11:00:11 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse sometimes new isn't always better.
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,014 Points:820,075 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 1:03:18 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse tomok asks: "...wasn't that a problem with the Volt too?" I don't think so. I believe that the Volt problem stemmed from overheating in vehicles damaged in an accident. Like the Tesla, GM uses a circulating liquid coolant system to cool the battery. This pretty much controls the battery heat problem, unless the system or the battery itself is damaged. Chrysler, like the Nissan Leaf, was trying to use an air-cooled, rather than a liquid cooled battery (weight and cost savings). Both Chrysler and Nissan have now experienced problems with the battery overheating, so perhaps a circulating liquid coolant system (similar to what a typical ICE vehicle uses), is the best engineering practice at today's level of technology.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 7:42:48 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse time to go back to the drawing board.
BEGTWO Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,947 Points:724,515 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 8:37:08 AM Ignore BEGTWO Report Abuse OH...NO
jcdakota Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,347 Points:361,345 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 6:26:56 AM Ignore jcdakota Report Abuse Really need to fix that before the public sales start.
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,780 Points:1,546,850 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 5:29:30 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse Not good news for Chrysler, aye?
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,027 Points:2,346,485 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 3:09:39 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Overheating batteries cause Chrysler to halt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle program, wasn't that a problem with the Volt too? Now if the battery would catch fire everything would be right where it should be. Another Quality GM product! Follow what other successful car manufacturers are doing and copy them. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
bearzz Champion Author California Posts:1,432 Points:419,670 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:18:41 PM Ignore bearzz Report Abuse Meh . . .
PissedATthePump All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:507 Points:119,580 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:17:06 PM Ignore PissedATthePump Report Abuse The next phase of the project is try out a design which won't burn up.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,473 Points:663,175 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:11:27 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Would not own a EV.
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:13,722 Points:1,692,855 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:09:13 PM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse too advanced for its time?
jrschl Champion Author Louisville Posts:2,972 Points:681,740 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:08:26 PM Ignore jrschl Report Abuse Repost from a couple days ago, I do believe.
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,570 Points:2,445,135 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:07:50 PM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,820 Points:642,275 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:01:46 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse The auto field is advancing quickly & there will be trial & error on some.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,559 Points:1,173,100 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 11:01:17 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Interesting
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,507 Points:603,450 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:58:02 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse ok that's why there are test fleets.
suicyco16 All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:576 Points:287,625 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:56:28 PM Ignore suicyco16 Report Abuse yup
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,927 Points:1,575,955 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:42:30 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse so it isn't just the Volt
seeyardee Champion Author Sacramento Posts:9,101 Points:1,806,230 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:41:35 PM Ignore seeyardee Report Abuse Too bad. Hope they get the bugs worked out soon.
mrselfdestruct All-Star Author Arkansas Posts:998 Points:167,650 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:41:20 PM Ignore mrselfdestruct Report Abuse Dodge has never been good at shedding heat. At least the transmissions are getting better lol
boatmen Champion Author New York Posts:3,085 Points:622,805 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:37:43 PM Ignore boatmen Report Abuse Forget electric Garbage just another way of sticking to you if people used them in high numbers already high electric rate's would sore higher just like fuel does
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,625 Points:3,495,680 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:35:25 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Electric vehicles have a long way to go to be ready for prime time.
PoohMcGoo Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,067 Points:800,585 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:34:02 PM Ignore PoohMcGoo Report Abuse Before they catch on fire.
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,576 Points:1,772,940 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:30:52 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse EV's are not affordable. Problems such as this are part of the cost. Keep trying. But stop the subsidies. More money down the rathole.
CCLighthouse Champion Author Hartford Posts:1,008 Points:214,005 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:27:25 PM Ignore CCLighthouse Report Abuse I am still in love with my 13 year old gas powered Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD. Although it may be much cheaper to run (right now) I am not looking forward to electric. : (
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,212 Points:872,740 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:25:40 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse This is obviously a technology that is not ready for wide-spread use.
200porter Champion Author Toronto Posts:2,065 Points:542,135 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:24:18 PM Ignore 200porter Report Abuse Too bad
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,787 Points:645,260 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:23:53 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse My phone sometimes gets over 115 degrees while it is charging. Having hundreds of cells wired together and charged with a big amp quick charger will obviously create much more heat. The higher temperature that the cells are subjected to - the shorter their lifetime. The articles says that almost half of the $125 million for the failed program came from U.S. taxpayers by way of the Department of Energy
fcdriver Champion Author Tennessee Posts:7,253 Points:1,474,805 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:20:39 PM Ignore fcdriver Report Abuse back to the old drawing board
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,071 Points:1,732,210 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:17:45 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse where's the shut off?
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,804 Points:1,843,450 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:17:02 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse Electrics are not the future of transportation.
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:8,914 Points:1,733,810 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:16:09 PM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Wasting away more of our tax dolllars.
DutchTreatMI Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:3,310 Points:752,440 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:15:41 PM Ignore DutchTreatMI Report Abuse This is a major problem.
farn1958 All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:886 Points:183,385 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:11:52 PM Ignore farn1958 Report Abuse oh well back to the drawing board.
usnerd Veteran Author Dayton Posts:317 Points:228,555 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:11:48 PM Ignore usnerd Report Abuse What is the problem with free heat?
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,485 Points:748,715 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:10:23 PM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse You would think that coming late to the game, Chrysler would be able to get it right.
sent4456 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,335 Points:2,125,985 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:06:34 PM Ignore sent4456 Report Abuse Is about time. Battery is not last long.
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,569 Points:1,513,105 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:06:13 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse wow
anascom Champion Author Hamilton Posts:1,593 Points:553,115 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 10:03:15 PM Ignore anascom Report Abuse another reason to make me avoid electric cars, beside its cost!
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,805 Points:819,310 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:58:17 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse cutting costs doesn't always pan out does it???
Homito All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:880 Points:174,700 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:57:21 PM Ignore Homito Report Abuse keep participating.
Homito All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:880 Points:174,700 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:57:10 PM Ignore Homito Report Abuse good try.
Homito All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:880 Points:174,700 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:57:02 PM Ignore Homito Report Abuse you learn when you make mistakes.
tarheelcoastie Champion Author Greensboro Posts:5,196 Points:1,111,155 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:56:20 PM Ignore tarheelcoastie Report Abuse idiots!
lucky69 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,761 Points:1,468,465 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:54:45 PM Ignore lucky69 Report Abuse don't go cheap on the batteries and they won't be over heating so much.
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,353 Points:1,540,730 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:54:36 PM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Dont go near the vehicle.
brutherruther Veteran Author Fort Worth Posts:435 Points:237,540 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:53:22 PM Ignore brutherruther Report Abuse Ok
q2 Champion Author Alberta Posts:2,034 Points:380,095 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:46:16 PM Ignore q2 Report Abuse Ok
WillyG Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,553 Points:906,090 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:42:59 PM Ignore WillyG Report Abuse Defective batteries ? How come the rest of the trucks didn't overheat ?