Electric plans charging ahead
TECHNOLOGY/ Ford has announced a number of new electrified and hybrid passenger and commercial vehicles
While Ford Southern Africa is busy firefighting the Kuga safety recall crisis, elsewhere in the world the Blue Oval is pushing ahead with plans to introduce new technologies and join the electric and alternative drivetrain revolution.
Recently the firm revealed details of some of the 13 new global electrified vehicles it plans to introduce in the next five years, including hybrid versions of the iconic F-150 pickup and Mustang in the US, a plug-in hybrid Transit Custom van in Europe and a fully electric SUV with an expected range of about 450km for customers globally.
The move is part of a $4.5bn investment in electrified vehicles by 2020. The plans are part of the company’s expansion to be an automotive and a mobility company, including leading in electrified and autonomous vehicles and providing new mobility solutions.
“As more and more consumers around the world become interested in electrified vehicles, Ford is committed to being a leader in providing consumers with a broad range of electrified vehicles, services and solutions that make people’s lives better,” says Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “Our investments and expanding line-up reflect our view that global offerings of electrified vehicles will exceed petrolpowered vehicles within the next 15 years.”
Ford is focusing its electric vehicle (EV) plan on its areas of strength — electrifying its most popular, high-volume commercial vehicles, trucks, SUVs and performance vehicles to make them even more capable, productive and fun to drive.
The global electrified vehicles announced recently include the full-electric SUV, an autonomous hybrid vehicle for ride sharing, a hybrid version of the Mustang, a Transit Custom plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and a hybrid Transit Connect. There will even be two new pursuitrated hybrid police vehicles for the US market. Ford has said that its new hybrid models would be the first to feature electric power combined with EcoBoost engines, although not the Kuga’s 1.6 EcoBoost we assume
The company says it also plans to be as aggressive in developing global electrified vehicles services and solutions. These include EV fleet management, route planning and telematics solutions.
Ford also said last week that it will begin trials of its Transit Custom PHEV in the UK later in 2017. Supported by Transport for London, the trial will last a year and include 20 vehicles. The aim is to explore how such vans can contribute to cleaner air targets while boosting productivity for operators in urban conditions.
“This exciting project in London shows how innovative technology can help improve the prosperity and quality of life in our congested cities,” Ford Europe chairman and CEO Jim Farley says. “Ford is the top selling commercial vehicle brand in Europe, so it’s fitting that this Transit plug-in hybrid is leading the electric vehicle revolution for business users.”
London mayor Sadiq Khan says: “The freight sector’s transition to ultra-low emission vehicles is central to cleaning up London’s toxic air.”