Chrysler Teases Halcyon Concept Again on Instagram
Remember the Chrysler Halcyon autonomous battery-electric vehicle concept? After making its first debut in February 2024, it seemed like a very ambitious concept for the minivan automaker. Months after Chrysler admitted to being completely content to being an automaker with a single nameplate to its name after discontinuing the Chrysler 300, the Halcyon concept rose from the shadows. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. That is, until now. Posted to the automaker’s Instagram, a sneak peek at the Halcyon appears from behind a wall…coupled with a sad or angry man.
Not the best way to reveal a new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) if you ask us. Americans are already incredibly wary of making the transition to BEVs. Even with all of the apps and services out there that make it easier to find a charging station along one’s path, American consumers still wave away at the very thought of getting behind the wheel of a BEV. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are the furthest most consumers will go in terms of getting an electrified option. At least with a PHEV, consumers can still fill up at gas stations like normal, whereas recharging at some random station in the middle of a shopping plaza is an afterthought.
Sure, there is IONNA, the joint venture between BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. All of these automakers are determined to make BEVs and electrified options more practical in the U.S. by building a nationwide BEV charging network. They also wouldn’t be the first ones to make that claim. Volkswagen and General Motors are also working together to build more charging stations across the country, and Mercedes-Benz announced an investment of billions of dollars to build 10,000 fast-charging stations across North America before joining IONNA. Jeep and Electrify America wanted to build the Jeep 4xe Charging Network, but only installed three charging stations at popular trails for Jeepers to roam – Moab, Utah; the Rubicon Trail in Pollock Pines, California; and Big Bear, California.
Going back to the Halcyon concept, BEV and sad man aside, calling the model fully autonomous is a large claim to back up. Most vehicles today have only level 3 or level 4 autonomy. Jeep showcased some off-road autonomous vehicles in 2023, but level 3 was the furthest they went. Not only that, but no Level 3 systems are legal to use on American roads at this point in time. Not even Waymo could get the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to budge, and they’re one of the longest projects to get autonomous vehicles on the map. To claim a vehicle from Chrysler will be fully autonomous requires some cold, hard facts that the concept can perform feats of level 5 autonomy.
The other outrageous claim is the Halcyon with have an unlimited driving range. If that one holds any water, then it shatters the fear of needing to stop and charging up anywhere. Nothing will be stopping American consumers from going electric with Chrysler if they can truly get an unlimited all-electric range (AER). After the tease Chrysler posted, maybe we’ll find out what is true and what is false sooner than later. Follow along with us on Aventura Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram social media to learn more.