The loan wouldn't actually be used to produce vehicles Chrysler would be able to sell, but rather to create a nationwide demo fleet of all-electric minivans for the Post Office. Taxpayer money to pay for the marketing of a product Chrysler is unable to bring to market? That's almost as good an idea as trusting the post office with a fragile package.

Chrysler Celebrates Earth Day by Revealing All-new Electric Minivan Concepts to U.S. Postal Service

* Chrysler exhibits flexibility of its electric vehicle portfolio with a new Chrysler minivan EV concept, targeted for postal delivery use
* Chrysler intends to submit an application under the U.S. Department of Energy's Transportation Electrification stimulus program for a federal grant that would enable a nationwide demonstration fleet with the United States Postal Service (USPS)
* Potential partnership with USPS to include infrastructure support from ConEd, Duke Energy, DTE Energy and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Washington, D.C., Apr 22, 2009 -

Chrysler invented the minivan 25 years ago. More than 12 million minivan sales later, Chrysler today showed off four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan concepts to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as part of the USPS Earth Day celebration.

Chrysler LLC, in conjunction with the USPS and select energy service providers, also announced that the company intends to apply for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) Transportation Electrification stimulus program for a federal grant, which would enable Chrysler to establish a nationwide demonstration fleet of zero-emission electric minivans that could be used by the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery.

"With more than a 40 percent market share, our Chrysler and Dodge minivans continue to lead the segment we created more than 25 years ago," said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President-Product Development, Chrysler LLC. "Our ENVI electric minivan concepts illustrate Chrysler's innovation with electric vehicle technology and show what the future could hold."

Chrysler's ENVI group leveraged the flexibility of its electric-vehicle strategy to demonstrate an all-electric version of its best-selling minivan. These electric minivan concepts are targeted specifically for use by the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery.

"We continue to look for energy-efficient replacement vehicles for our aging fleet as we explore ways to reduce our transportation-related carbon emissions," said Sam Pulcrano, Vice President-Sustainability, U.S. Postal Service.

"Chrysler and the Postal Service have an established relationship as there are more than 10,000 of our minivans in the Postal Service fleet," said Lou Rhodes, Vice President-Advance Vehicle Engineering and President of ENVI, Chrysler LLC. "The Postal Service is a recognized environmental innovator and leader, and we are excited at the prospect of continuing our relationship by working to deliver alternative energy postal delivery vehicles in the future."

Because robust grid integration is essential for widespread customer acceptance of electric vehicles, Chrysler has enlisted the involvement of key utility partners, including Duke, ConEd and DTE. Each has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Chrysler to equip post offices in strategically selected regions of the United States with a charging infrastructure for the envisioned program. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) also has signed an LOI to provide USPS integration tools.

"Our partnership is structured to easily expand into additional regions of the country as the scope of the project increases," added Rhodes.

Earlier this month, Chrysler announced A123Systems as one of its strategic partners and production battery supplier for the company's initial production electric vehicles. Chrysler LLC and A123Systems signed an agreement stating that A123Systems will supply energy storage systems for Chrysler's first-generation ENVI Range-extended Electric Vehicles and battery-only Electric Vehicles. Based in Watertown, Massachusetts, A123Systems has announced plans for a Michigan-based production facility. A123Systems will manufacture Nanophosphate Lithium ion prismatic battery cells, modules and battery packs for Chrysler LLC. Advanced lithium-ion battery chemistry has the capability of meeting consumer demands for performance, driving range and durability.

Automobile Magazine's Best Road Trip Vehicles By Category

Best Seats: Volvo S80

Most Versatile: Chrysler Town & Country

Most Cargo Space: Dodge Sprinter

Best Entertainment System: Infiniti M35/M45

Best Fuel Economy: Toyota Corolla/Honda Civic Hybrid (tie)

Best To Sleep In While Moving: Lexus LS460L/LS600hL

Yes, yes, we know that's not the normal tack our site takes, but can you blame us? What in the segment is really all that fun to drive? Frankly, the Econoline's too big to compete, despite our desires to make such a head-on competition happen, and C.J.'s not impressing us with comparisons to "fun" vehicles like the Buick Enclave and most definitely not winning points with a Honda Odyssey. Sure, you could get a Honda Odyssey, but the average selling price — as C.J. points out — is almsot five grand more than the average selling price point on the Town & Country and Grand Caravan. It may not necessarily (it may be, someone check this one out for us — do some configurator work in the comments below if you could) be because they're just so much cheaper (re: crappier), but rather that the toys Mom & Dad want to keep the little brats quiet in the back two rows of seats are so much cheaper to get to in the Dodge and the Chrysler.

Also, let's be clear here — Dan Neil says the twin Chrysler minivans are the bestest people movers ever built. And if you're going to go negative on it, you certainly don't have the same panache as Clarkson. Frankly Ms. Cregg, you sir are no Jeremy Clarkson.And that's all there is to it. [NYT Automobiles]

What is this strange new vehicle so enjoyed by swarthy men in white pants and the tennis instructors who sweat them? It is small, like a car, yet squared off, like a box of Saltines. It's almost as if it were a miniature van.

Nope, it'll never catch on. – Mike Spinelli

[via NASIOC]

Related:
The Embargo Is Breached, Will It Hold? Chrysler, Dodge Minivan Pics Hit Spanish Forum Site [internal]

We're still pretty far from the launch of Chrysler's next-generation, non-minivan minivans, but they're all over the desert, undergoing hot-weather testing. We're not sure if engineers are employing a controversial new interior test, during which they lock two Ritalin cases in the back for six hours with nothing but five-year-old Disney DVDs and Mountain Dew. Last time, we heard the kids shredded the stow-and-go seating. Maybe by now they've gotten all the kinks out. – Mike Spinelli

Redesigned 2008 Chrysler Town and Country caught [Edmunds]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Chrysler Minivan [internal]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Chrysler Caravan [internal]

There's not much new to see in this prototype of the next generation of Chrysler minivans, but these latest shots are slightly clearer than those taken in past months. The vans are being poked and prodded by engineers in the desert heat, these days, in advance of their arrival for the 2008 model year. What we know so far: They'll be boxy and relatively slab-sided; they'll have roll-down windows; they'll get a new front fascia including projector-beam headlamps; they'll be compliant with Europe's pedestrian-protection standards; and we may just see them at the next Detroit show — this January. About that Hemi rumor? Don't you believe it.

SPY PHOTOS: New Chrysler Caravan [World Car Fans]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Chrysler, Dodge Minivans [internal]

Some days, joy comes by mail. Despite having missed the deadline for our last "reader rides" feature, a Michigan-based reader sent in an account of his many rides, all of which are awesome by degree. Without further ado, let's take a walk on the wild side with Bob, shall we?

I drive a 1970 Chrysler 300 two-door every day. Dark green faded to a greyish black by 30 years of abuse and misuse. And everyone in Pontiac seems to want it.

I'm working on fixing my 1968 Chrysler Town & Country, my first car, bought at 15. Currently rebuilding the front suspension at school. Today's excitement was removing 120 lbs of lead chunks from behind the front bumper, in a tray welded in place by the genius hillbilly previous owner, in an attempt to "lower" the front suspension. For a man who claimed to be a die-hard Moparite, it defies me how he didn't realize he could lower the car by turning a bolt in the lower control arm. Ah, the joys of torsion bars.

Wait, there are none!

Other than ride-height-on-demand. Tomorrow's excitement: calling metal scrap dealers to see who will give me the best price on lead! I need all the money I can get to fill the tank of "the tank."

I also own an '86 Dodge 600, which my grandmother made sure was saved for me. Nevermind that she stopped driving in 1996 and had been "saving it" in the street in front of her house in Hamtramck, where it had been hit by a forklift full of sausage being transported to the Kowalski warehouse down the street, the hood had been pried open by thieves looking to steal the already missing battery, a pack of rats had nested in the engine bay — and died there — and the floors and brake lines had entirely rusted away. (Oh, and the city towed it away and returned it twice.) It HAD to be saved for me. And now I'm obliged to dump hundreds of dollars into it to humor an 87 year old woman who can't walk. Oh joy. (I do love my grandmother- but it saddens me to piss away so much money, time, and effort for a rusted out K-car. If it still had floors, it'd be a different issue.)

And when my 300 is unplated and pissing off the city inspectors and my neighbors, the wagon is dangling on a lift at my school with no front suspension, and the 600 is rotting away on a side street in Hamtramck, I rock a 2001 Ford Econoline passenger van, a candy-apple-esque red and gold two-tone, now going on 140,000 miles with the ungodly-slow 4.2 V-6, which is apparently not even available on newer Econolines, for good reason. If the two-second throttle delay doesn't disturb you when pulling into traffic, the eight-second crawl from zero to 45 certainly will. To make it feel faster, I have written "Type R" and "VR-4" in the dirt on the rear doors near the E-150 badge. It all depends if I'm in a Honda or Mitsubishi mood.

And when I find the Econoline Type R far too fast for my tastes, I have bicycles. I'd point out a specific one, but there's too many. I lost count at 50. I should consider selling them. But what fun is selling things? It's far more entertaining to drown yourself and loved ones in random junk brought home from garage sales and antique stores. YAY!!! It's a damn good thing I'm broke, or I'd manage to get my ass in more trouble buying shit. Now that I've told you my life's story, you can hopefully go back and pick out what vehicles I drive for your survey. Good luck with that.

— Bob J.

Mechanical engineer, math wiz and potential cast member of "The Office," Brian Feldman is a devotee of the minivan genre. He's owned minivans since he was 19 (we have no idea how old he is now, though he's likely less old than Rip Taylor and more old than a bag of Funyons), and enjoys the "extreme comfort for all occupants," "thoughtful design and features" and "chic exterior appearance" of such vehicles. Want more? Click through for an excerpt from his FAQ page. [Thanks to Jeff for the tip.]

Is it easy to get girls in a Town & Country?

Yes. As I mentioned previously, the engineers at Chrysler designed the seats to be at just the right height so there is no need to climb or drop way down to enter the vehicle. Most of them can just slide right in to the front seat without much effort, especially if the seats are leather - they're slipperier than the cloth.

No, I meant is it easy to attract girls when you drive a Town & Country?

It's no harder than it was in the Saturn that I drove before I entered the wonderful world of minivan ownership. And I haven't seen any sports cars out there with privacy glass and enough room for a bed in the back. If I wanted to attract the type of girls that were only attracted to a sports car or I felt like I needed to compensate for something, I'd go out and buy one just for that purpose. Till then I'm sticking with the minivan. Any girl who wouldn't date a guy that drives a minivan isn't worth dating. I know this from talking to some girls who said they would never date a guy who drives one.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Chrysler Town & Country [Brian Feldman]

Related:
VW and DaimlerChrysler in Talks to Build a Joint Minivan for US Market [internal]