Chrysler calls the Pacifica Hybrid ‘the reinvention of the minivan segment,’ and it is. In fact, Chrysler actually created the segment over 30 years ago with its Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager/Chrysler Town and Country models, so it’s fitting that the next logical step – the industry’s first-ever plug-in hybrid minivan – come from this automaker.

Pacifica delivers big on many levels including practicality, comfort, and technology. This minivan, and its conventionally-powered counterpart, has come to market with nearly 40 firsts for the minivan segment, plus 115 minivan innovations on these models alone. To enhance fuel economy, Pacifica Hybrid even offers an ‘efficiency coach’ to instruct you for the most efficient driving. As expected there’s is a smartphone app providing charge status, scheduling, and most importantly locations nationwide for charging.

One of many details that stand out on this minivan are  sliding door tracks lines hidden under the rear quarter glass, adding to the smooth and unbroken lines of the Pacifica. The Hybrid has its own unique interior colors combining Black and Alloy with Anodized Ice Cave accents, Ice Blue stitching, and Black piping. The blue stitching on the seats and dash have the look of a luxury sedan or sports car. An 8.4 inch UConnect touchscreen integrates seamlessly into the dash with a glossy screen allowing for higher contrast. The model’s optional tri-pane panoramic sunroof lends a perceived open-air spaciousness to the roomy interior. Hands-free sliding doors and liftgate add to the minivan’s convenience.

Contributing to the hybrid’s weight balance is a 16 kWh lithium battery pack that stows beneath the second-row floor. The only downside is that the gas version’s ability to stow second row seats under the floor is sacrificed since the Hybrid’s battery is now utilizing that space. Creating a flat floor for carrying gear is still possible but requires physically removing the pair of second row seats and leaving them at home. The third-row does ‘Stow-in-Go’ as designed. While the Hybrid seats seven rather than eight like in the gas version, the upside is that the second row seats are captain’s chairs that add comfort and a chauffeur-driven car feeling.

Chrysler initially projected 80 MPGe (miles-per-gallon equivalent) while driving solely on battery power. Official EPA figures now put that electric driving figure at a higher 84 MPGe, with a combined 32 mpg when running in hybrid mode. EPA testing has also confirmed a battery electric range of 33 miles and total driving range of 570 miles, a nice bump up from the 30 electric miles and 530 mile overall driving range the automaker originally projected. Plus, EPA has assigned the all-new minivan a rating of 10 in its Green Vehicle Guide, marking the first time a minivan has achieved the guide’s highest possible rating.

Pacifica Hybrid accomplishes all this even with an extra 650 pounds of weight over the gas variant – 4,943 pounds for the Hybrid compared to 4,330 pounds for the gas model. Chalk that differential up to the Hybrid’s battery weight and unique plug-in hybrid componentry. For comparison, the gas Pacifica delivers 18 city and 28 highway mpg, with a combined 22 mpg. A drag coefficient of .30 contributes to the mileage figures of both versions. EPA estimates the annual fuel cost of gas and electricity combined to be $850.

Pacifica operates in electric mode whenever possible. During our test drive we noticed no change when the electric charge was used up and Pacifica switched to hybrid mode. The Hybrid has an Atkinson cycle 3.6 liter Pentastar V-6 producing an estimated 260 horsepower that’s coupled to a dual-motor, electrically variable transmission (ETV). A one-way clutch enables the motor typically used as a generator to also deliver torque to the wheels, depending on driving conditions. The minivan’s battery can be recharged with a supplied 120 volt charger in 14 hours or in just 2 hours using a home or public 240 volt charger.

The conventional Pacifica is rated to tow 3,600 pounds but towing is not recommend for the Hybrid variant. The Hybrid also has a smaller gas tank at 16.5 gallons compared to the standard 19 gallon tank, although the Hybrid has greater overall driving range. Braking uses standard 13” vented rotors front and rear and ABS. An added benefit with the Hybrid is its regenerative braking that converts kinetic energy to electricity while braking and coast-down, thus adding to driving range by charging the battery.

Manufactures realize that sales are now driven by tech as much as anything on new models. Chrysler engineers and designers have delivered in this regard by offering over 100 standard or available safety and security features. Some highlights are the Pacifica’s 360-degree Surround View camera that includes a bird’s eye view of vehicle surroundings. The model’s Uconnect Theater system offers 7- or 8.4- inch screens while sound systems range from six to 13 speaker Alpine systems or 20 speaker Harman Kardon audio. Six USB ports are standard.

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid comes in two models – Premium at $41,995 or Platinum at $44,995. It qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit and may qualify for additional state and local incentives that bring its price down considerably, to as low as $34,495 with the federal credit and even lower with other potential incentives.

Lithium is a key component of lithium-ion battery packs that power electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles. A recent report from Pike Research forecast global sales of EV charging equipment will grow from 200,000 units sold in 2012 to nearly 2.4 million in 2020, representing a compound annual growth rate of 37%. With lithium a key component to the electric vehicle market, it is crucial that North America has adequate access to this critical element minus any geopolitical conflicts.

Credit Suisse has forecast a 10.3 percent annual growth in demand for lithium between 2009 and 2020. Global lithium demand has tripled over the past decade, and the global market price of lithium carbonate has tripled since 2001 to its current level of around $6,500 per ton.

An industrial research report by David & Company forecasts that the global market for lithium-ion batteries will increase to $43 billion by 2020 compared to an $11 billion level in 2010 with the primary catalyst the increased demand for electric cars.

Most lithium today is mined in Australia, Argentina, and Chile. The largest known deposit is in Bolivia but political turmoil has hampered production. In the United States, there is a Nevada mine with geo-thermal powerplants that extracts lithium as a by-product near the Salton Sea in Southern California. China remains the leading importer of lithium minerals and compounds and the leading producer of value-added lithium materials. My company’s 100 percent-owned Rose Tantalum-Lithium Project, in the James Bay region in Quebec, is slated to start production by 2014 and is free of any geopolitical turmoil. We will be a valued global source for conflict-free Tantalum.

High purity lithium is required for a variety of electrical storage needs – from batteries that power electric and hybrid vehicles or provide large scale storage of renewable and conventionally produced power, to the batteries that power electronics including those found in smart phones, laptops, and gaming systems. Having proven a purity of 99.9 percent for our lithium makes our Rose Tantalum-Lithium project one of only five deposits globally that meet the rigorous specifications for lithium-ion batteries.

It is clear we have to ensure that North America does not lose the global war on being the leader in green energy solutions, which includes access to high quality conflict-free lithium. The war of the new millennium is being fought on a monetary and labor scale across the globe, with China the market leader for rare earth metals with about 97% of the world’s supply.

Next on China’s plate is renewable energy integration. Ironically, as environmental pollution in the People’s Republic of China runs rampant, the country has steadfastly focused on securing leadership status in the renewable industry. The Chinese government has set a goal of China securing 11.4 percent of its energy from non-fossil sources by the end of 2015, up from 8 percent today.

The U.S. government’s commitment to supporting both the renewable energy and electric vehicle industries underlines the need for the rapid development of rechargeable batteries, and this has thrown the spotlight on domestic lithium supplies.

It is critical that North Americans understand the importance of assuming a leader stake in the alternative energy market. As my company possesses the key critical elements crucial to the electric battery sector, we are committed to being an active and valued voice in implementing change.

Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, P.Geo, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Critical Elements Corp.