Ford to Bring Electric and Plug-In Hybrids to Market in 2011
While General Motors has been stealing all the publicity in the plug-in hybrid segment and Chrysler keeps rolling out an endless lineup of electric concept cars, Ford has been quietly working behind the scenes to develop both technologies. And according to a report in the Detroit News, Ford will bring both of these new technologies to market in 2011.
There aren’t a lot of specifics on what model the plug-in hybrid will be, but Ford is currently testing a fleet of Escape Plug-in Hybrids that get 120 mpg in the city and 70 mpg on the highway.
As for the zero-emissions electric vehicle, it will be a Ford Focus and will be based on the all-new vehicle due out in 2010. Ford had been concentrating mostly on the plug-in concept until one of its parts suppliers, Canadian company Magna International, developed a fully-electric version of the Focus. Apparently Magna representatives arrived at Ford HQ back in September for a meeting, driving an electric Focus that Magna had developed on its own.
Ford execs were so impressed that they took a serious look and now they have announced that a pure electric model will also join the fleet.
The electric Focus will have no gasoline motor at all and will operate up to 100 miles on a single charge.
[Source: Detroit News]
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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