Ford Unveils Plug-in Hybrid
Ford using the North American International Auto Show to debut two very different hybrids based on one vehicle. They will have hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of their new C-MAX, a small utility vehicle.
This comes just days after Ford introduced the electric version of the Focus at the Consumer Electronics Show.
"It's about providing customers choices, compelling choices that achieve more fuel efficiency and low emissions," said Ford vice president of Global Product development Derrick Kuzak.
The plug in hybrid will carry the name C-MAX Energi when it debuts in 2012 or 2013.
"A plug-in hybrid owner may make fewer trips to the pump to refuel because of its all-electric mode capability," explained Kuzak, in a statement from the company. "Conveniently, they'll be able to recharge their plug-in hybrid at home overnight. And they'll never have to think about the vehicle's electric range, because the plug-in hybrid seamlessly shifts to fuel power when needed."
Kuzak not yet able to say how far the C-MAX Energi will be able to go in pure electric mode. But, he said the vehicle will be able to travel around 500 miles on a single tank of gasoline.
Automakers are starting to see that a variety of choices will be needed as we see more types of "electrification" coming to vehicles.
"Clearly, electrification in one form or another—hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full hybrid vehicle--will play a part of the landscape in the industry," said Ford President of the America's Mark Fields.
That's because, Fields says, it will be required to meet new fuel economy rules.
"As you look at one national standard, that we have to meet, and we are going to meet by 2016, 32.5 miles per gallon, it's an important part of it."
Long term rules haven't been developed, but there's been talk about a standard of sixty miles per gallon or more.
"The dialogue is going on right now for, what is the one national standard in the next phase, beyond 2020."
A conventional hybrid version of the C-MAX is also on display at the auto show. It should be out some time in 2012, and will be the debut of an all new hybrid system for Ford.
"We are now developing our third generation," said Sherif Marakby, Ford's director of hybrid and electric programs. "We are going to achieve higher fuel economy than our best in class Fusion hybrid, 41 miles per gallon."
Both the C-MAX hybrid and C-MAX Energi will be five seat vehicles, not the seven seat minivan type vehicles that we'll see when the conventionally powered Ford C-MAX debuts in about a year.
