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Ford Consumers Get the ABC of Electric Vehicles

Staff, Monday November 22, 2010.

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Electrification is an important piece of Ford's overall sustainability strategy.

As electrification options are increasing for car buyers around the world, consumers are looking for information to understand how these new technologies work.

What is the difference between a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)? Or, Why is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) considered an electrified vehicle?

To help provide jargon-free answers to electric vehicle questions, Ford has launched a new web site: http://www.fordvehicles.com/technology/electric/

Ford Consumers Get the ABC of Electric Vehicles

The site delivers the basic information consumers need to understand electrified vehicle and technology choices.

It is part of Ford's efforts to educate consumers globally about the range of electrified vehicles and help potential buyers determine which electrified option might best suit their specific driving habits and needs.

Consumers who visit the site will be able to review videos, text and cutaway diagrams that illustrate the differences between hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure battery electric vehicles like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Focus Electric and planned Ford plug-in vehicles.

The site does not offer opinions on which vehicle technology is better. Rather, it explains about how petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles work to help consumers decide which vehicle could be the best option for them.

Electrification is one aspect of Ford's overall global product sustainability strategy, which includes a range of fuel-efficient and alternative-fuel technologies designed to offer consumers a portfolio of vehicle choices.

"We know consumers are excited about the variety of electrified vehicles coming to market over the next two years, but we have heard many of them say they don't truly understand the differences between these options," Ford’s director of global electrification, Nancy Gioia, said.

"Educating consumers on electrified vehicle options will be crucial to satisfying their needs as they decide whether to buy a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure battery electric car," she said.

The site explains the differences in each type of vehicle, and details the technology that makes them possible, including battery chemistry, charge ports and regenerative braking.
"We want our customers to be informed and educated," said Gioia. "Most of our customers are used to traditional petrol engines powering their cars, so this technology is new to them.

"This site gives them the tools to learn about our electrified vehicles with resources they are most comfortable with – text, graphical fact sheets, videos or a combination of the materials."

The web site also provides a list of hybrid Ford vehicles available in some markets today.

Over the next two years, the Blue Oval will deliver at least five new electric vehicles into various global markets.

Ford Consumers Get the ABC of Electric Vehicles

Ford will soon bring to market a Transit Connect Electric small commercial van and Ford Focus Electric vehicle.

The company also has plans for two next-generation lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid electric vehicles and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for North America in 2012.

The Transit Connect Electric will use a Ford Drive electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by Azure Dynamics. The 28kW liquid-cooled battery pack uses advanced lithium-ion battery technology developed by Johnson Controls-Saft.

"Transit Connect Electric exemplifies how we are leveraging our relationships as well as our hybrid and advanced powertrain programs to bring energy-efficient technologies from the laboratory to the street," Ford’s group vice president, Global Product Development, Derrick Kuzak, said.

"Not only is this an ideal vehicle for eco-conscious fleet operators, it is an important part of Ford's future," he said.

Transit Connect Electric is well-suited for commercial fleets that travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go driving in urban and suburban environments and a central location for daily recharging.

The vehicle will accelerate at a similar rate as the petrol-powered Transit Connect and will have a top speed of 120km/h. The electric van has a targeted range of up to 128km on a full charge.

Owners will have the option of recharging the Transit Connect Electric with either a standard 120-volt outlet or preferably a 240-volt charge station installed at the user's base of operations for optimal recharging in six to eight hours.

Electrified vehicles are one part of Ford's broader strategy to offer a wide range of environmentally friendly, advanced technology solutions to improve fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

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