DaimlerChrysler Corp. (Auburn Hills, MI) debuted two prototype vehicles at the 2002 Washington, DC, auto show held December 20, 2001: the Dodge Ram COMBATT and the Jeep Liberty hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs).
The Dodge Ram COMBATT prototype is a military version of the 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 3ft in height. The camouflaged COMBATT prototype will have a diesel hybrid-electric powertrain. The Dodge Ram HEV will offer users up to 15 percent improved fuel economy plus the use of up to 20kW of continuous electrical power to operate equipment at remote sites.
The Jeep Liberty HEV is a hybrid SUV featuring DaimlerChrysler's Through-the-Road hybrid-electric powertrain. The 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.
