El Peapod, con la terminación de Apple, es el nuevo automóvil eléctrico que ha presentado la marca estadounidense Chrysler. El nombre con el que lo han bautizado es Peapod.
El Peapod es una solución pensada para todos aquellos que realizan pequeños desplazamientos dentro de la ciudad. De este modo, pueden contar con un medio de transporte relativamente barato, ecológico y bastante cómodo.
El Peapod está construido con materiales provenientes de reciclado. Todos sus accesorios son muy ligeros e incluso el techo puede retirarse como si fuera un lujoso descapotable. Su batería le permite una autonomía de 48 kilómetros.
Las previsiones son que salga a la venta en octubre de este año Estados Unidos, a un precio de 12.000 dólares, que al cambio actual son unos 8.900 euros.
El Peapod no es el vehículo del futuro, sino una realidad que empezará rodar en el año 2009 por carreteras y ciudades norteamericanas, tal como han asegurado los responsables del proyecto, que se integra dentro de la nueva estrategia ecológica del grupo Chrysler LLC.
Chrysler LLC ha creado la división GreenEcoMobility, que se ocupará del diseño, desarrollo, producción y comercialización de una gama de vehículos eléctricos, una tarea en la que ya cuentan con una experiencia de una década en Estados Unidos, con más de 38.000 vehículos eléctricos producidos para todo tipo de aplicaciones, desde centros urbanos a bases militares y centros industriales, en una gama que cuenta con seis modelos de pasajeros y otros tres de aplicaciones específicas.
El Peapod es un vehículo de líneas suaves que ha sido concebido pensando en la naturaleza. Además de llevar baterías en las que se acumula la energía eléctrica que mueve el motor sin emisiones contaminantes, en su producción se emplean muchos plásticos que han sido reciclados.
Desde el punto de vista de la tecnología, el Peapod es un alarde de diseño en el exterior y en el interior, donde destaca la consola central que ofrecerá un iPod integral con un sistema manos libres para que el conductor pueda emplear su iPhone sin soltar las manos al volante y sentado sobre unos asientos ergonómicos con un sistema de recirculación del aire que mejora notablemente el confort.
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Chrysler Peapod Mobility Appears to be on Hold
Back on Earth Day, April 22nd, Peapod Mobility was to begin accepting orders online for its line of Peapod neighborhood electric vehicles or NEV for short. The announcement of accepting orders came and went with no change to their website and no place to put an order in.
Peapod, a Chrysler product line, markets several different NEVs. They are capable of speeds up to 25 mph and can travel for as little as 2 cents per mile and have a cute, smile inducing face. With a range of 30 miles and zero emissions, they make sense for urban dwellers, but production appears delayed as Chrysler attempts to get out of its financial troubles.
You can visit the Peapod Mobility website and place your name on a waiting list to be updated when orders are being accepted, but for now the project appears to be at a halt and is behind schedule.
If or when the Peapod goes on sale, it is expected to be priced around $12,000.
Clean and green transportation gets a new look and feel as GEM, a Chrysler LLC company, introduces the next generation of clean, gas-free and emission-free, battery electric vehicles.
The vehicle’s innovative, groundbreaking design, with its striking pod-like shape and sleek lines, reflects the environmentally friendly nature that has been the hallmark of GEM since its founding 10 years ago.
The user-friendly mood of the vehicle, named the GEM Peapod, is enhanced with the newly designed center console that will offer iPod integration, as well as hands-free operation of the customer’s iPhone. Other innovations include ergonomic, supportive, mesh seating, which enables air circulation for comfort and uses eco-friendly recycled and recyclable materials.
‘We have evolved the GEM design language to better reflect its eco-friendly performance and its upbeat, positive image,’ said Peter Arnell, Chrysler LLC’s Chief Innovation Officer who led the design process. ‘These vehicles use no gasoline and emit no pollutants. So whether it’s a trip around the neighborhood or the drive to school or work, the GEM Peapod is the ideal way to contribute to a greener planet, and a healthy lifestyle.’
GEM will also get a new name – GreenEcoMobility, Arnell said, signifying the company’s goal to redefine environmentally friendly vehicles.
Chrysler will show the styling model for the production 2009 GEM at the company’s headquarters Sept. 23, 2008. The re-designed GEM is scheduled for production in 2009.
The Peapod represents the first in a series of product launches that will redefine the future of electric vehicles, said the company’s CEO Bruce Coventry.
‘With this next generation GEM, we will broaden the market for this clean, emission-free technology,’ Coventry said.
In addition to the 2009 GEM Peapod neighborhood electric vehicle, Coventry said, GEM has plans to market a new light-duty, battery electric commercial truck and a larger city electric vehicle, with more range and performance. These vehicles are scheduled for production within the next year, he said.
Today’s GEM is the nation’s No. 1 zero-emission electric vehicle, with 38,000 produced and in use. GEM vehicles are used in settings such as city centers, planned communities, military bases, college campuses, corporate and commercial centers, and city, state and national parks.
‘Over the past decade, GEM has established itself as the nation’s leading battery-powered, pure electric vehicle,’ said GEM President and COO Rick Kasper. ‘We have done that by responding to the needs of our customers for safety, utility, versatility and performance in environmentally friendly vehicles.’
GEM cars are available in six models: two-, four- and six-passenger cars and three utility vehicles. GEM neighborhood electric vehicles have a top speed of 25 miles per hour, a range of up to 30 miles per charge (battery charge is extended through use of regenerative braking) and are street legal in more than 40 states. The vehicles can be recharged anytime, anywhere with a standard 110-volt outlet. Recharge time is approximately six to eight hours.
By replacing conventional vehicles, GEM vehicles can reduce overall emissions of pollutants, particularly during short trips when conventional vehicles create the most tailpipe emissions. GEM vehicles have been driven a combined 200 million miles and averted more than 150 tons of pollutants from reaching the air, while saving 10 million gallons of gasoline.
www.chryslerllc.com/en/innovation/envi/overview/
