Ford Motor said today that it is investing $4.5 billion in electric vehicles by 2020.
Ford is adding 13 new EVS, which means more than 40% of the company’s global nameplates will come in some sort of electrified versions, defined as hybrid, plug in hybrid or pure EVs.
Currently in the U.S these types of vehicles account for less than 3% of the booming light vehicle market, globally even less. Therefore other factors are in play here – the pending interim review of U.S. CAFE standards; the outcome of the global climate change talks in Paris; marketing concerns over the fuel consumption of the F-Series, the world’s best selling pickup truck, to name a few.
First up is a new Focus Electric, with an all-new DC fast-charge capability delivering an 80% charge in an estimated 30 minutes and projected 100-mile range – an estimated two hours faster than today’s Focus Electric that has performed dismally in the marketplace.
Focus Electric in production late next year will provide North American and European customers with – we didn’t make up the following marketing babble:
- SmartGauge with EcoGuide LCD Instrument Cluster with customizable displays that can help the driver see real-time EV power usage to maximize vehicle efficiency.
- Brake Coach that coaches the driver on how to use smooth braking to maximize the energy captured through the Regenerative Braking System. The more energy a driver captures through braking, the more energy is returned to the vehicle’s battery.
