Project-managed by Ford, “colognE-mobil” also includes the recently launched zero-emission Ford Focus Electric and is partly funded by the German government.

Originally launched by Ford in January 2009, the colognE-Mobil large-scale electric vehicle field trial brought together four partners—the Ford-Werke GmbH, RheinEnergie AG, the city of Cologne and the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE)—in a project to test electrical mobility in all its aspects under everyday conditions.

For the second phase of the project, which runs from 2012 to 2015, Ford is working with 11 partners that include transport and energy companies, government departments, and research organisations. They are RheinEnergie AG, the city of Cologne; the University of Duisburg-Essen; the public transport providers KVB and RVK; the solar energy company Energiebau; Transportation Research & Consulting GmbH; the Cologne cab company Taxiruf; the Cologne/Bonn Airport; the TÜV Rheinland; and DB Rent GmbH.

The second phase of the project will focus on:

• Charging infrastructure improvements;
• The use of renewable power, electric car-sharing, and e-cabs;
• Networking effectively with public transport; and
• Public perception and safety aspects.

The C-MAX Energi and Focus Electric are part of a line-up of Ford electrified vehicles coming to Europe in 2014 that will later also include the all-new Ford Mondeo Hybrid.