EVs mass market: Chrysler announces electric Fiat 500 for the U.S. in 2012 TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, HEV, AONE, F, NSANY

One more model of electric car will be coming on the roads in 2012, today it is EV Fiat 500. It is with lithium based battery and our iPod moment in Electric Cars is coming fast. With every new model and announced production decision strategic value of Lithium and REE will be coming on the radar screens of investors.

"Washington is slowly getting into the Lithium and REE issues. TREM 2010 which held its place in the capital has provided an alarming set of facts to the government authorities and has issued a set of recommendations for implementation. Will there be any action taken? - you never know with politicians, but this move is a first sign of recognising the importance of secure strategic supply of materials for the new economy based on clean tech, electric cars and smart grid systems. Question is rather simple in nature: who will finance companies involved in Lithium and REE supply chain like International Lithium Corp and TNR Gold American companies, Japanese, Koreans or Chinese? Only one North American company - Canadian Magna has been involved in strategic Lithium deal in Argentina recently in a sharp contrast to aggressive move of Chinese companies in Australia and even more aggressive approach of Japanese Trading Houses in Argentina, Canada and Nevada".

Chrysler announces electric Fiat 500 for the U.S. in 2012

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By Jim Frenak

Chrysler plans to develop an electric vehicle for the U.S. starting in 2012 based on its Fiat 500 small car, it announced today. It will look pretty much like the Fiat 500EV that it showed off at the big auto show in Detroit in January.

""The Fiat 500 is a small, lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology," said Scott Kunselman, senior vice president of engineering for Chrysler.

Chrysler had planned to market three electric vehicles before Fiat became the controlling owner during its bankruptcy reorganization last year. Fiat shelved those plans, but today's announcement makes it clear that electric cars are clearly in Chrysler's future. Why?:

The great thing about electric vehicles is that they really aren't that complicated: The Fiat 500EV powertrain consists of a high-power electric motor, advanced lithium-ion battery and an EV control unit to manage power flows. The problem is usually cost, especially for the batteries.

Though the Fiat is an Italian car, all of the powertrain engineering and vehicle development will take place at Chrysler Group headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. Pricing will be announced closer to launch, but Chrysler vows it will be competitive with similar electric vehicles in the market.

The gasoline version of the 500 is due in the U.S. at the end of the year.

Chrysler already has a head start on electric vehicle development. It has 140 plug-in electric Ram pickups for a three-year demonstration project that includes various geographic and climatic locations across the USA."