Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid News

Carmakers Seek to Satiate American SUV Lust, With Electricity

Zach McDonald — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:54:13 +0000

For nearly two decades, automakers have had a keen awareness of America's infatuation with sport utility vehicles. And though the SUV market may never again reach the heights that it did during the early-2000s, the question for carmakers isn't so much whether Americans still want to drive the vehicles but whether they can be made practical in an era of energy uncertainty and rising fuel economy standards.

Recently Toyota, General Motors, Ford, and Mitsubishi have worked to develop plug-in SUVs in the hope of one day reconciling America's large vehicle love affair with the host of environmental and economic drawbacks that come with their popularity.

Will the U.S. and Europe Get a Ford Plug-in Hybrid Mini-Minivan?

Nick Chambers — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:18:44 +0000

Last week Ford used the Paris Auto Show to announce that they are still on track to deliver five new electrified vehicles to the U.S. market by 2012 and Europe by 2013. While at first blush the announcement didn't seem to shed much new light on Ford's plans—aside from a "Yeah, we're still heading in that direction" kind of vibe—after mulling it all over, it's becoming clear that Ford has some surprises up its sleeves.

As many of you know, in the U.S. Ford's electrification plans include the Ford Transit Connect Electric (available now), Ford Focus Electric (available next year), as well as two unannounced next generation hybrids with lithium-ion battery packs and one unannounced plug-in hybrid due before the end of 2012.

For EV Charging, You Can’t Beat Free

John Gartner — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:32:05 +0000

A Coulomb Technology ChargePoint installation in San Jose, Calif.

The San Francisco Bay Area and eight cities will receive nearly 5,000 charging stations and residential charging equipment courtesy of the federal government. The Department of Energy has funded a $15 million project that will provide equipment from Coulomb Technologies of Campbell, California.

This build out of charging infrastructure is paid for under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will provide equipment to applicants in Austin, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Sacramento, Redmond, (WA) and Washington DC. Companies and individuals seeking the charging equipment would have to cover the installation and other service costs, which is expected to net Coulomb Technologies another $22 million.

Automakers Race to Design Car-to-Grid Communications

Brad Berman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:30:00 +0000

“We all have to abide by the same laws of physics. When forced to do that, and do it in an economically responsible manner, you find out pretty quickly who is just talking and who has serious proposals out there.”

Greg Frenette
Ford manager of battery electric vehicle applications

Ford Smart Charging Can Target Clean Power

Brad Berman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:22:00 +0000

By John Gartner

Mulally Prioritizes Ford’s High-MPG Technologies

Brad Berman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:57:00 +0000

Ford CEO Alan Mulally, the Ford Focus EV, and the Ford Escape Hybrid.

Realities Behind Obama’s Electric Car Photo Op

Brad Berman — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:19:00 +0000

When President Barack Obama walked into Southern California Edison’s electric-vehicle test facility in Pomona today, he visited what may be the highest concentration of electric vehicles in North America. It was a photo op, of course. The president’s goal, said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, was to highlight the role of plug-in cars in creating “clean energy jobs” that will spur economic growth.

Magna’s Plug-and-Play Electric Vehicle

Brad Berman — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Magna Steyr, the European arm of auto supplier Magna International, unveiled its Mila EV (electric vehicle) concept car this week at the Geneva International Motor Show. The company is not planning to put the Mila EV directly on the market—instead, it hopes that global automakers will use the ground-up design as a head start for brand new electric cars. Think of it as a plug-and-play EV for carmakers.

Ford Sneaks Up On Electric Car Future

Brad Berman — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:13:00 +0000

While all eyes are on high-profile plug-in announcements from General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and others, Ford appears to be quietly inching into a leading position in the race to get electric vehicles on the market.

Ford Transit Connect, a fully electric commercial van.