Ford Motor Co said it’s investing US$4.5 billion in electrified vehicles, responding to regulatory pressure with a bet on technologies that have struggled to attract buyers in the United States as fuel prices stay low.
Advertisement
“The challenge going forward isn’t who provides the most technology in a vehicle but who best organises that technology in a way that most excites and delights people”, said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Product Development and chief technical officer, Ford Motor Company.
The global expansion of Ford’s electric vehicle research and development programme allows the company’s Electrified Powertrain Engineering teams to share data in real time and to develop new technology faster while reducing the need for costly prototypes.
The investment will help it bring 13 new electrified vehicles to market by 2020, including a fast-charging electric Focus with 100 miles of driving range.
The automakers are anticipating tightened emissions rules in the wake of the Paris Climate Summit.
When it comes to electric vehicles, Ford is somewhere in the middle of the pack.
Ford is also expected to show the next-generation Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid next month at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.
Washington said Ford expects within four years to field a vehicle that can drive itself with the driver “fully out of the loop”.
“Electrified” vehicles include not only battery-electric vehicles but also the company’s hybrids and plug-in hybrids, and potentially even cars with advanced start-stop systems.
“All platforms will be capable of both gasoline and electric vehicles”, Nair he said.
Ford has sold roughly 6,000 Focus Electrics since the first one was delivered in December 2011.
Sales of the electric Focus have remained at compliance-car levels for five years, swamped by those of the Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Model S, and lately the BMW i3 as well. The Lincoln MKZ hybrid has added 7,400 sales this year.
“Range anxiety still exists”, Nair said.
Advertisement
“In the immediate future, we see hybrids and plug-ins playing a dramatic role”, Fields said. “We are using new insights from anthropologists, sociologists, economists, journalists and designers, along with traditional business techniques, to reimagine our product development process, create new experiences and make life better for millions of people”.
