New Ford Web Site Has Electric Car Scoop

Is an electric car for you?

A new Web site from Ford Motor Co. offers video, text and diagrams to help you decide.

The site, www.fordvehicles.com/technology/electric, offers the basic information consumers need to understand electrified vehicle and technology choices.

Ford has several electric cars and trucks in the pipeline -- later this year, the Transit Connect Electric, a small commercial van; in 2011, the Ford Focus Electric passenger car; and in 2012, a next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.

The site will educate consumers about the range of electric vehicles and help potential buyers determine which electrified option would best suit their specific driving habits and needs.

Consumers who visit the site will be able to review videos, text and cutaway diagrams that illustrate the differences between hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure battery electric vehicles.

The site does not offer opinions on which vehicle technology is better. Rather, it provides clear explanations about how gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles work to help consumers decide which vehicle could be the best option for them.

Electrification is one aspect of Ford's overall product sustainability strategy that includes a range of fuel-efficient and alternative-fuel technologies.

"We know consumers are excited about the variety of electrified vehicles coming to market over the next two years, but we have heard many of them say they don't truly understand the differences between these options," said Nancy Gioia, director of global electrification for Ford. "Educating consumers on electrified vehicle options will be crucial to satisfying their needs as they decide whether to buy a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure battery electric car."

The site explains the differences in each type of vehicle, and details the technology that makes them possible, including battery chemistry, charge ports and regenerative braking.

"We want our customers to be informed and educated," said Gioia. "Most of our customers are used to traditional gasoline engines powering their cars, so this technology is new to them. This site gives them the tools to learn about our electrified vehicles with resources they are most comfortable with -- text, graphical fact sheets, videos or a combination of the materials."

The Web site also provides a list of Ford vehicles available with hybrid technology today, including the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which set the standard for fuel economy in midsize sedans with 41 mpg city.

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