Ford’s electrification plans moving ahead in Europe

[xcel]

5 models by 2013.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Mar. 13, 2010

2011 Ford Transit Connect BEV will be the first of many future BEV, PHEV and HEV’s to come.

Ford confirmed that its global electric vehicles plan is extending to Europe with five full electric or hybrid vehicles across its C, CD and light commercial vehicle ranges coming for European customers by 2013.

Specifically, Ford will launch two zero-emission full BEVs 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 – will be introduced in 2013.

Ford’s global electrification strategy will deliver a suite of electrified vehicles to a variety of markets and build on the company's overall vision of offering the widest possible range of technology solutions – instead of a single vehicle or technology – to improve fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions for customers around the world.

"We recognize that one technology does not work for all our customers," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development. "Our electrification strategy and plans include hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles to best meet our global customers' needs. Leveraging our global platforms is also central to this strategy and allows us to build on our strong product line-up in the most customer-driven, affordable way."

As Ford's global product vision accelerates to ensure that all the company's vehicles competing in global segments become common in Europe, North America and Asia, the resulting efficiencies will allow a global portfolio of environmentally friendly transportation solutions to be developed based around HEV, PHEV and BEVs.

"Our goal is to provide consumers with access to significant fuel economy improvements and reduced CO2 emissions to meet their functional needs and without compromising their driving experience," said John Fleming, Chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe.

"There is increasing interest among a number of customers in Europe for electrified vehicles and we are responding by stepping up our efforts to bring these models to the marketplace alongside our latest-generation, fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel powered models," Fleming added. "This is further evidence of how the ONE Ford global product vision is transforming our business. European consumers will not have to wait too long before they can choose from a range of electrified alternatives from Ford."

Zero-Emission

The first models to be launched in Europe will be zero-emission, full-electric versions of two significant models in Ford's global product portfolio.

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.

Future Hybrids

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.

"Thanks to the global economies of scale afforded to us by our ONE Ford initiative, I am delighted we are able to make the commitment now to deliver these models to customers in Europe, particularly as the demand for hybrid vehicles grows," added John Fleming.

Further details of Ford's hybrid and PHEV 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 BEV 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 program 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. 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.

"These initiatives are a revolution for both the utility and automotive industries," Fleming said. "Collaborating across sectors is essential to ensure customer focused products that provide the right value along with the readiness of the infrastructure. We need to work and learn together and Ford is very pleased to be a part of these important trials."

Portfolio of Technologies

Ford Motor Company is committed to offering customers affordable environmental technologies in the vehicles they want and value.

To do this, Ford is introducing a range of global environmental technologies, including electrified vehicles that provide customers with more fuel-efficient models emitting fewer greenhouse gases without compromising safety, interior room or performance.

"Ford is focused on solutions that reach not just hundreds or thousands of cars, but millions of vehicles – because that is how Ford can truly make a difference," Derrick Kuzak said.

Near- and longer-term advancements include the new Ford EcoBoost global engine family featuring turbocharging and direct injection technology, Ford's ECOnetic range of low- CO2 technologies in Europe, and multi-speed transmissions such as Ford PowerShift.

Also, Ford is developing a range of other environmentally focused features, including advanced electric power steering, weight reduction and aerodynamic improvements, plus bio-fuel-capable vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

“Electrification is a key element in the effective use of Ford's global resources and talents to provide a portfolio of affordable and fuel-efficient technologies for customers,” said Fleming. “In particular our fleet trials in the UK and Germany will give us vital experience and insight into how fleet and private customers for these niche models will use them on a daily basis. This will ensure that the five models we bring to market are fully developed to meet their expectations."

[drimportracing]

If Ford keeps this up they are going to be #1 again and for a long time. - Dale

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

It's a shame the Focus EV won't be available until 2012. Except for Nissan of course, who will have a one year advantage with the Leaf.

The Transit EV is extremely interesting. Here's a calculation:
Let's say 18kWh usable of 28kWh charged at 90% efficiency. That's 20kWh of charge.
Using our $0.147/kWh giving a 60 mile (loaded) range that's $0.049/mile.

Gas here is $2.719. EPA city mileage for the gas version is 22mpg (and that's unloaded).
That's $0.124/mile.

Let's say van is used for 60 miles, 5 days per week, 52 weeks per year.
That's 15,600 miles. Annually that gives:
Annual EV fuel cost: $764.40
Annual gas cost: $1,928.02
Annual EV saving: $1,163.62

Given other potential savings from reduced maintenance and better performance than my calculation assumes it could be great for urban fleets.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Actually, the Focus EV will be available here in the US in 2011.

If I'm able to replace my vehicles in 2012 (that's the plan at any rate!) I'm pretty sure the decision will be between the Focus EV and the Leaf. Have I mentioned I'm excited about these two vehicles?

[xcel]

Hi Sean:

___Given the Leaf is based off the Versa and the upcoming Focus is based off the... well upcoming Focus, you will definitely want the Focus if the prices are reasonably close.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by Right Lane Cruiser

Actually, the Focus EV will be available here in the US in 2011.

Great if it's 2011!

If I'm able to replace my vehicles in 2012 (that's the plan at any rate!) I'm pretty sure the decision will be between the Focus EV and the Leaf. Have I mentioned I'm excited about these two vehicles?

I'm not sure, have you?

By December 31st 2011 there will be real-world production EVs and PHEVs with real prices, real owners with real-world experiences, real-world odometer readings, real-world range and fuel consumption numbers.

By then all the range anxiety and charging issues will be demonstrated not to be a problem for the owners. As Robert Llewellyn humorously points out it takes about 9 seconds to charge an EV (although he missed the additional time required to unplug).

All of the current speculation will be replaced by more certainty and people will be able to make fully-informed decisions as to whether an EV or PHEV fits their budget and their lives. And finally, we'll stop having to read how the Chevy Volt will cost $40k because somebody at GM gave an estimate 2 years ago about something that depends significantly on the cost and reliability of the battery, both of which were uncertain.

There should also be some out-of-this-world hypermiling numbers for the PHEVs!

By December 31st 2012 the Transit EV will have businesses with urban delivery fleets beginning to electrify and the USPS EV project will have more EV vehicles.

I'm incredibly excited about the coming EVs and PHEVs and I'm not planning to replace a car until 2018! Sadly, I expect I'll have to wait for quite some time before I'll get to see a production EV on the road or a parking lot in person.

18 days until Nissan Pricing Month!

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Wayne, if the prices are at all comparable I'm inclined to go with the Focus -- though I'm still (a little) worried they'll go with the sedan format. I'll need a hatch. Since all the recent prototypes have been hatches and I'm pretty sure Ford will want to compete as directly with the Leaf as possible I'm guessing they'll go that direction, but we still have to wait to see!

INATM, I eagerly await that info as well!

[xcel]

Hi All:

___While not exactly the range we are looking for, there is still the Prius PHEV-12/13 headed our way. Given the small pack, the PHEV modders will surely take this one to 7 + kWh and it will hopefully be a plug and play upgrade vs. what PHEV conversion people are putting people through now?

___I will have the chance to drive the PHEV in 3-weeks and again in two months so hopefully the 62 mph Glide is now a guarantee just the original Prius-II PHEV we drove in Detroit three years ago. A 62 mph Glide could make the 11 Prius PHEV-12/13 something a bit more attractive for a mixed driving cycle if the price is right?

___In addition, Ford’s C-Class sized HEV (I wish they would simply call it a Focus vs. dancing around the branding issue) will surely be upgradeable to a PHEV- something hopefully? That is if Ford includes that capability right out of the box?

___Good Luck

___Wayne