Well, the Boston Red Sox might not be on a winning streak lately, but at least the city of Boston has something to be happy for – Ram has just announced that it will be loaning Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 10 Ram 1500 Plug-in Hybrid trucks to allow the truck maker to continue its testing in different environments around the country.
Boston’s Ram 1500 PHEVs represent 10 of the 140 trucks that are currently being tested around the country. Ram chose Boston to test the trucks for the next three years so that it could collect data on its plug-in hybrid systems under city driving conditions. “Boston offers heavy traffic and urban driving that are ideal city test cycles,” said Abdullah Bazzi, Chrysler Senior Manager for advanced hybrid vehicle project, “The constant charging will allow us to measure the impact on battery life and charging efficiency.”
Chrysler is currently using the Ram 1500 PHEVs to evaluate how its customers use, drive, and charge the vehicles, as well as to collect data on thermal management, fuel economy, emissions, and impact on the regional power grid.
Some other cities that have received Ram 1500 PHEVs include Yuma, Ariz., Albany, N.Y., Charlotte, N.C., and San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.
As a refresher, the Ram 1500 PHEV is based on Chrysler’s short-lived dual-mode hybrid system (shared with GM) that made its way on to a select number of Dodge Durangos and Chrysler Aspens as well. The Ram 1500 PHEV is powered by a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, an electric motor, and a 12.9 kWhr lithium ion battery pack underneath the rear seats.
Ram says that there are currently no plans for a production version of the 1500 PHEV.
