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Ford Extends Global Electric Vehicles Plan to Europe; Five Models to Launch by 2013

Ford Motor Company is extending its global electric vehicles plan to Europe with five full electric or hybrid vehicles across its C, CD and light commercial vehicle ranges to be introduced in that market by 2013.

Specifically, Ford will launch two zero-emission full battery-electric vehicles including the Transit Connect Electric light commercial vehicle in 2011 followed by the Ford Focus Electric in 2012. Three other vehicles—two next-generation gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles and a plug-in hybrid&madsh;will be introduced in 2013.

“There is no question in our mind at this point that oil, as the only alternative for our vehicles, is not a good business strategy. Around the world by 2020, we see 10 to 25 percent of the Ford fleet electrified.”
—Nancy Gioia, Ford’s director of global electrification

The Focus Electric will be based on Ford’s next-generation Focus model and is one of at least ten vehicles that will be developed from the company’s new global C-car platform. Focus Electric will be introduced in the US and Canada in 2011, followed by Europe in 2012.

The Ford Transit Connect Electric is a zero-emission, pure electric-powered version of the award-winning Transit Connect light commercial vehicle and goes on sale in North America later this year. Ford is aiming to make the Transit Connect Electric available for European customers from 2011.

While Ford has considerable experience in the North American market with full gasoline-hybrid vehicles, the company also is planning to expand its presence in Europe with two all-new, next-generation hybrid passenger cars based on global platforms following in 2013. In addition, European customers will be able to opt for a plug-in hybrid model, also coming in 2013.

Further details of Ford’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid models will be revealed closer to launch.

Prototype Trials in Europe. Ford’s Product Development team is participating in two specific European trial initiatives to demonstrate the technology in real world driving conditions, and generate feedback to help develop further the Focus Electric and the Transit Connect Electric for market acceptance in Europe.

In the UK, a consortium of Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Strathclyde University is preparing later this year to run a fleet of zero emissions prototype Ford Focus Battery Electric Vehicle prototypes, based around the current Focus model sold in Europe and using elements of the technology under development for the new Focus Electric.

The vehicles will be used for evaluation by both SSE and a number of fleet and private customers based in Hillingdon, Middlesex from mid-2010.

This new UK-based BEV demonstration fleet is being created partly with public funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB), which promotes innovative industry-led projects that reduce CO2. The BEV research programme aims to test the technology’s suitability and to gain greater insight into customer charging behavior.

In Germany, Ford has recently announced its participation in the colognE-mobil project. (Earlier post.) This initiative will research the impact of electric vehicles on urban air quality, traffic safety and the electricity supply infrastructure. Scientists will then scale up the results to examine the true benefits an electric future could deliver for German cities.

Ford is one of four partners in the colognE-mobil project and will provide an early fleet of next-generation Focus Electric vehicles in late 2011. The other partners are utility company RheinEnergie AG, the City of Cologne and the University of Duisburg-Essen. The colognE-mobil project is partly funded by the German Government and coordinated by the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Comments

HarveyD

Excellent news from Ford.

Ford should also expand this strategy to Asia thru JVs with local Chinese, Korean and Indian manufacturers.

Moves like this one will promote more advanced battery R & D and the mass production facilities required to increase performance and lower cost.

By 2012/2013 we should see many new PHEVs and BEVs on the market place.

SJC

“There is no question in our mind at this point that oil, as the only alternative for our vehicles, is not a good business strategy..."

Gee...ya think? That is why they pay them the big bucks :)

Bryan

Ford is really on a great path. Don't let Mulally leave!! It seems like he is the new Iacocca...

Arne

Hmmm
Electric Ford Focus
Electric Volkswagen Golf
Nissan Leaf

Is history going to repeat itself? See the Prius/Civic hybrid story. I think people shelling out for an electric car will want to get the fealing that they are driving something exclusive, not just the electric version of a 13-in-a-dozen car like the Focus or Golf.

ai_vin

Anne's right, an EV should have a LOOK all its own but even if you're just putting batteries in a ICE model you can still change the look. EVs don't need radiators so block the grill, and brakes will use regen and wont need cooled so the rear wheel well could be covered as in the EV1. These simple changes would give the car a more "aero" styling.

Arne

ai_vin, I don't think a different grille and a few spoilers is enough to give people the exclusiveness that they are willing to pay for. I think a different vehicle is necessary for that.

Dave K.

I bought a Prius in 04, not because it was different (unlike the Civic H.) but because it was better! I think some will buy a Leaf because it's different but for most it's a complicated mix of personal preferences, if the Focus and Golf are good cars they will find buyers. I personally will probably buy a Leaf because it's coming first.

Justin VP

If the differentiation argument was as strong as you imply then the original Honda Insight would have sold in higher numbers.

Differentiation is certainly a selling point for some buyers. But I have heard anecdotal evidence from several buyers that they avoided the Prius because of image and styling. My wife is one, she opted for an Acura TSX even though the efficiency of the Prius was very desirable to her.

I believe the success of the Prius is primarily due to the fact that it is a very good, practical, reliable very efficient car.

If the other cars on this list are, good, reliable, efficient, then they may sell very well. I personally look forward to the Focus, but have doubts as to whether VW can build a reliable hybrid. They're not exactly good at building reliable electrical systems.

ai_vin

I agree Anne, my suggestions were only for when you don't design a different vehicle - that's why I started the suggestions with the words "but even if."

SJC

This was one reasons that Honda came out with the Insight 2. The Civic hybrid was a Civic. They noticed that the Prius did not have a regular counterpart, even though the Echo was close to the original design.

Ford Escape hybrid and now the Fusion hybrid have regular counterparts and sell well. It does not matter to me, but it might to some buyers. The Camry hybrid and Highlander hybrid have regular models and sell well, so I guess it is mostly market perception.

HarveyD

I have mixed feelings about the necessity of completely new design for electrified vehicles.

Cars, Vans, SUVs, Crossovers etc have been designed to meet specific expectations and/or requirements regardless of the power train.

However, one must admit that high power ICE could propel 2 to 3-tonne monsters at 80 mph for almost 500 miles non-stop. Without major design changes, an electrified counterpart would require a huge 250 to 300 Kwh battery to do the same.

Increased efficiency will dictate better design, much lighter vehicles with less drag for long range BEVs without having 1+ tonne of batteries on board. A full size BEV body should not weight more than 1-tonne and drag should be as low as 0.20, with large dia. thin wheels etc. That being said, a very different design may be justified and even required.

Another good reason for a different aproach is increased longitivity of e-cars versus ICE cars. A pure BEV with a rust proof body should last 20 to 30 years in most environments. A different type of bady will be required to last that long.

Arne

If the differentiation argument was as strong as you imply then the original Honda Insight would have sold in higher numbers.

Justin, the original Insight was a tiny two-seater. That disqualified it for mass appeal from the beginning. Furthermore, it was not sold in many parts of the world. Thirdly I didn't say a different car is a guarantee for success.

Megan

This was a very informative article about green vehicles. Because Ford is spreading their knowledge further into the world, it is allowing companies to take notice and understand the future of green vehicles and the people driving them. A great website that has more information about green vehicles is www.greencollareconomy.com and they have a green vehicle directory at www.greencollareconomy.com/Green_Directory/green-transportation/

Megan

This was a very informative article about green vehicles. Because Ford is spreading their knowledge further into the world, it is allowing companies to take notice and understand the future of green vehicles and the people driving them. A great website that has more information about green vehicles is www.greencollareconomy.com and they have a green vehicle directory at www.greencollareconomy.com/Green_Directory/green-transportation/

SJC

"the original Insight was a tiny two-seater"

These could make good commuter cars, but utility comes into play. People will buy them because they are sporty or convertible, but maybe as a second car. It comes down to spending your money on a car that will do everything you need it to do.

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