DaimlerChrysler to Demonstrate Alternative Vision of Hybrid Fuel Vehicles at 2002 Washington, D.C. Auto Show

Hybrid Technology Showcased in Unique Military and Civilian Formats Dodge Ram HEVs to Come with On-board Generator WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- With the debut of two prototype vehicles at the 2002 Washington, D.C. Auto Show December 20, 2001 -- The Dodge Ram COMBATT and the Jeep® Liberty HEV hybrid electric vehicle -- DaimlerChrysler demonstrates that hybrid electric vehicles come in all shapes, sizes, personalities and purposes.

The Dodge Ram COMBATT prototype is a military version of Dodge Ram 2500 with a purpose-built hydro-pneumatic on/off road suspension system, capable of allowing any single wheel to scale an obstacle in excess of three feet in height. While the camouflaged COMBATT prototype on display at the Washington Show uses a diesel-only powertrain, the production version to be built for military/homeland defense in the Spring of 2002 will have the diesel hybrid electric powertrain found in the Dodge Ram HEV ``contractor special,'' also on display at the auto show press preview.

It is expected that this week the Congress will approve $15 million in the 2002 Department of Defense Appropriation for the U.S. military's hybrid COMBATT program, for which this vehicle was designed.

``DaimlerChrysler is extremely pleased that the U.S. military will be using the very best of our technology for national security,'' said Robert G. Liberatore, DaimlerChrysler Senior Vice President, Public Policy and External Affairs. ``The Ram pickup truck is the perfect foundation for a military vehicle: flexible enough to accommodate a hybrid powertrain, tough enough for a military spec suspension.'' Michigan Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, deserves special credit for his leadership in energizing the partnership between the automotive industry and the United States Armed Forces.``

The Dodge Ram HEV, also known as the ``contractor special,'' to be available in 2004, will offer builders, construction workers, landscapers and other truck users up to 15% improved fuel economy, plus the use of up to 20 kW of continuous electrical power to operate equipment at remote sites. In fact, the generator is so powerful it could be used to power several homes during a power outage. A conventional generator with similar capacity would use valuable cargo space and add up to 2,200 pounds of weight. The vehicle's gasoline engine is also much cleaner than portable generators, which are not controlled by any emissions regulations.

The Dodge Ram HEV and COMBATT fill ``vocational'' niches, but the Jeep® Liberty HEV, making its debut today at the Washington show, exemplifies the potential of hybrid technology in a compact SUV, one of the industry's most popular segments. The Liberty HEV features DaimlerChrysler's Through the Road (TTR) hybrid electric powertrain.

The hybrid Liberty combines two separate propulsion systems: a 2.4-liter, I-4 engine with automatic transmission that powers the rear wheels, and a three-phase, AC induction electric motor that drives the front wheels. The electric motor assists the gasoline engine during acceleration, and the battery pack recaptures energy normally lost during deceleration.

According to Bernard Robertson, DaimlerChrysler Senior Vice President - Engineering Technologies and Regulatory Affairs, ``DaimlerChrysler's unique hybrid technology is adaptable to a range of product applications from pickup trucks and SUVs to minivans and sedans. With the added feature of four-wheel drive, our hybrid strategy may appeal to a broader market than other HEVs.''

``DaimlerChrysler applauds the Federal government and military for their commitment to supporting hybrid technology. Government fleets and consumer tax credits are two examples of how the government can help spur the market interest in advanced technology vehicles.''