Ford plans long-range electric vehicle

Ford plans to introduce a long-range electric vehicle that would travel 320 kilometres or more on a charge to compete with battery-powered models coming from Tesla Motors and General Motors.

“Our approach, very simply, is we want to make sure that we’re either among the leaders or in a leadership position,” chief executive officer Mark Fields told analysts and reporters on a conference call Thursday. He didn’t say when Ford would start making the vehicle.

Ford joins a growing field of automakers seeking to overcome consumer fears that electric cars will run out of juice, leaving them stranded.

GM plans a debut this fall for the Chevrolet Bolt, an all-electric hatchback it says will have a range of at least 322 kilometres.

Reports indicate Nissan’s nextgeneration Leaf electric car will match that distance on a charge.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the $35,000 (U.S.) Model 3 slated for late 2017 will go at least 215 miles between plug-ins.

Research shows that more consumers will be willing to buy an electric vehicle as driving range grows and the price falls. Automakers are under pressure to improve the fuel economy of their entire lineups to meet U.S. fuel-efficiency regulations.

Ford, which recently paid almost $212,000 to buy one of the first Tesla Model X electric sport utility vehicles, this fall will begin offering its Focus Electric model.

Ford has said it is investing $4.5 billion in electrified vehicles and will add 13 electric cars and hybrids to its lineup by 2020. Those models will represent 40 per cent of Ford’s showroom, up from 13 per cent now.

Fields has said plug-in hybrids will be the fastest-growing type of electric vehicle.