This year Ford Motor Company has revealed three new electrified vehicles, giving consumers a tantalizing look at an electrified future. At this year’s North American International Auto Show, Ford debuted the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. A few weeks earlier, Ford unveiled the Focus Electric at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Global stragegy
These electrified models share Ford’s global C-car platform and will be built along with the redesigned Focus at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. European versions will be built in Ford’s plant in Valencia, Spain. The new C-MAX is part of Ford’s global small vehicle strategy. According to Ford, this strategy is intended to deliver at least 10 vehicles, and 2 million vehicles annually, from a single C-vehicle platform by 2012.
Focus Electric will launch in North America in late 2011 and is expected to deliver a mile-per-gallon equivalent better than GM’s Chevy Volt. Focus Electric is designed to fully recharge in three to four hours using a 240 volt charger. The MyFord mobile application will allow owners to monitor vehicle status using a smart phone. “Focus Electric is the flagship of our new family of electrified vehicles, showcasing our commitment to offer consumers choice when it comes to fuel-efficient or fuel-free vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development.
C-MAX Hybrid will be launched in 2012 and uses Ford’s next-generation lithium-ion hybrid technology. C-MAX hybrid utilizes Ford’s powersplit hybrid architecture which allows this vehicle to operate in all-electric mode at speeds greater than 47 mph.
C-MAX Energi will be introduced in 2012 and is designed to achieve a 500 mile range using the battery and a gasoline engine. The C-MAX Energi will take advantage of Ford’s MyFord Touch technology that will enable the owner to configure vehicle information including fuel level and reserve battery power. The C-MAX Energi will also use the MyFord mobile application.
Lithium-ion batteries
Ford’s hybrid/plug-in and all-electric vehicles will use advanced lithium-ion batteries. According to Ford, these batteries are about 20 percent smaller and up to 50 percent lighter, compared to nickel-hydride batteries.
For an alternative view, read: How is buying a hybrid or an EV more risky than buying a used airplane?
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