What family wouldn’t want a plug-in hybrid minivan? Well, some may opt for more stylish crossover vehicles because they’re generally sportier, but parents who have kids and gear to haul around have often found the sheer functionality of minivans indispensible.

That’s why Chrysler’s news that plug-in hybrid electric Town & Country minivans are now being placed into fleet service with Duke Energy is a bit of interesting news. No, it doesn’t mean plug-in minivans will be at new car showrooms in the short term, but it is signaling positive movement.

The goal of the two-year demonstration program, which involves 25 plug-in minivans with Duke Energy and other partners, is to gather real-world operating data as the vehicles are subjected to a range of driving cycles. This data will help Chrysler engineers assess the viability of the technology for future applications.

The plug-in hybrid minivans are equipped with E85 ethanol-compatible 3.6-liter engines coupled to front-wheel-drive, two-mode hybrid transmissions. Power is also supplied by a liquid-cooled 12.1 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that brings a total output of 290 horsepower and helps deliver a driving range of 700 miles. Charging at 220 volts requires two to four hours while using a 110 volt charger takes up to 15 hours, depending on a battery’s state of depletion.

 

Audi is fielding four LMP1 cars at the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans this coming June. Importantly, two of these will feature hybrid powerplants for the first time.

The pair of Audi R18 e-tron quattros recover  kinetic energy during braking and feed this back as electricity to a flywheel accumulator, which powers an electric motor at the front wheels to aid acceleration at speeds above 75 mph. The car’s 510 hp V-6 TDI powerplant drives the rear wheels.

Audi Motorsport head Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich points out that developing its hybrid technology for Le Mans is at least as ambitious and challenging as its diesel racing project was in its early stages. That said, results have been very encouraging and the motorsports team is eager to see how the R18 e-tron quattro’s hybrid systems perform in concert with their ultra-lightweight technology.

Innovating its way to wins is nothing new to Audi, which achieved the first win for a TFSI (Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection) engine in 2001 and for a TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) diesel-powered car in 2006. The automaker is the most successful brand in the race’s recent history with 10 wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2000.