Chrysler submits electric car plan

DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. automaker Chrysler LLC said on Tuesday it submitted proposals totalling $448 million (280 million pounds) to the U.S. Department of Energy to research and develop electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models.

Chrysler and its "partners," plus the Department of Energy, would pay $224 million each should the proposals be approved and would include an investment of up to $83 million to build a new technology and manufacturing centre in Michigan to help develop and assemble these vehicles. That complex should be functional by 2010 and produce more than 20,000 vehicles a year, Chrysler said.

The applications for matching funds were made as part of two initiatives at the Department of Energy that are designed to speed up the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

Chrysler has been operating in bankruptcy since April 30.

The announcement of Chrysler's proposal came a day before a judge is expected to rule on the automaker's plans to sell its most valuable assets to a new company owned by the U.S. and Canadian governments, Chrysler's union and Italian car maker Fiat SpA.

It also came a week after U.S. President Barack Obama announced tough new fuel economy standards for automakers.

As of 2007, when Chrysler was still part of German automaker Daimler AG, the U.S. automaker had the lowest fleet mileage of any of the major automakers.

That same year the company set up its ENVI unit to develop fuel-saving vehicle technology.

Chrysler said on Tuesday the vehicles it aimed to develop include the Dodge Ram 1500 plug-in hybrid, the Chrysler Town & Country plug-in hybrid and the Chrysler Town & Country electric vehicle.