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DaimlerChrysler EPIC Logs More Than 350 Miles In 10-Hour Demonstration

23 November 1999

DaimlerChrysler EPIC Logs More Than 350 Miles In 10-Hour Demonstration of Fast-Charging Technology

    ATLANTA, Nov. 19 -- A DaimlerChrysler EPIC
minivan logged 353.1 miles in a 10-hour period Thursday, demonstrating the
real-world benefits of fast-charging capabilities for electric vehicles.
    The EPIC, the electric-powered version of the popular Dodge Caravan
minivan, traveled a route between Atlanta International Airport and the site
of this week's North American Electric Vehicle and Infrastructure (NAEVI)
convention and exposition.  The route took the EPIC along busy city streets
and a major expressway throughout the day, including morning and afternoon
rush hours.
    "This shows that fast-charge technology can expand the range and the
utility of the electric vehicle, potentially opening new markets for these
vehicles," said Mike Clement, Director of Alternate Fuel Vehicle Sales and
Marketing for DaimlerChrysler Corp.
    The demonstration also benefited 10 attendees at the NAEVI convention, who
won prizes for accurately estimating the number of miles that the EPIC (which
stands for Electric Powered Interurban Commuter) would travel between 7 a.m.
and 5 p.m. today.
    The typical electric vehicle is limited to about 80-100 miles per day by
the need for recharging which takes six to eight hours with conventional
equipment.  The availability of fast-charge technology, which is unique to
DaimlerChrysler, enables the vehicle to be recharged and put back on the road
in less than 30 minutes.  The vehicle can thus cover more miles per day and
has added uses over the typical electric vehicle.
    The five-passenger minivans can travel up to 80 miles per hour and are
equipped with air bags, antilock brakes, heat, air-conditioning and power door
locks.  The EPIC can carry a payload of 925 pounds -- five passengers and 175
pounds of cargo, or a combination of the two.  The current model is powered by
28 12-volt advanced nickel-metal-hydride batteries that deliver up to 90 miles
per charge.  In addition to having lower emissions, the EPIC is much quieter
than its gasoline-powered counterpart.