Yesterday Ford revealed its high-mileage, mid-sized 2013 Fusion, Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi at the ongoing North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Economy for the hybrid model is said to be 47 mpg city, 44 mpg highway, beating out the 2012 Camry Hybrid’s 43/39 EPA mpg numbers.
And if that is not enough, the plug-in Energi model is promised to reach 100 MPGe or higher, topping the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf.
Ford’s updated Escape line due early next year will lack a hybrid option but yesterday the company said its pending 2012 Focus Electric and 2013 C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid will offer best-in-class efficiency.
Citing “expected” mileage figures, the Focus Electric is said to achieve 100 MPGe.
Of the C-Max Energi, Ford says it is expected to beat fuel economy delivered by the Prius plug-in hybrid in electric mode and top the Chevrolet Volt in range with 500 miles estimated.
Similarly, the C-MAX Hybrid is supposed to achieve better fuel economy than the Prius V in both city and highway driving.
Yesterday Ford Motor Co. began accepting online orders for its 2012 Focus Electric, which was first unveiled a year ago in Las Vegas.
The company is coming in with a limited and partially delayed launch a year or more after Nissan, which has has already sold over 8,000 of its (now) $35,200 all-electric Leafs in the U.S. alone.
The plug-in Focus will cost a bit more, starting at $39,995, and Ford – which quietly delayed release dates to 17 initial markets till next spring, then denied it – says buyers can "virtually build and price one" at its dedicated Web site.
Sadly for hybrid fans, Ford has announced that the Escape Hybrid will be discontinued for 2013.
Ford Motor Co. is making strides toward possibly building electric vehicles with its joint venture partner in China.
At a recent Ford Chinese transmission assembly plant groundbreaking ceremony, Ford’s CEO Alan R. Mulally indicated the blue oval brand is now mulling its options.
“As we move to more electrification, you’re going to see more hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric” cars, said Mulally, 66, in a Bloomberg Television interview on Sept. 24 in Chongqing, China.
Ford has revealed images and limited details about its stunning Evos concept car, which will debut later this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.
Last week, hybrid conversion startup ALTe and battery maker A123 Systems signed a long-term contract to enable ALTe to build extended-range light-duty fleet trucks by next summer.
A123 will supply 21.6 kwh – and eventually other – battery packs for the high-mpg plug in series hybrids that will operate similarly to a Chevy Volt or Fisker Karma.
Toyota and Ford today announced a deal to collaborate on hybrid-drive technology aimed at light trucks and SUVs. The agreement is expected to lead to new fuel-efficient powertrain designs that will begin showing up on light-duty vehicles sold under both the Ford and Toyota brands in the later part of the decade.
Ford announced yesterday that it and solar energy provider, SunPower, will begin offering rooftop arrays to provide clean electricity to charge Ford’s growing family of “electrified” vehicles.
The 2.5 kilowatt system will deliver enough energy to provide 3,000 kilowatt hours annually, which Ford estimates will be enough to let a Focus Electric driver travel 1,000 miles per month.
SunPower, which is based in San Jose, Calif., says the photovoltaic cells in its SunPower® E18 Series solar panels are highly efficient, and take up less rooftop space than some other systems.
With stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules coming down the pike, an Auburn Hills, Mich. company has a head start on a product for gas guzzlers that could dovetail with mandates looming on the horizon.
The solution being developed by ALTe is a promising extended-range vehicle conversion for fleet applications that updates a V8 powertrain with a four-cylinder plus electric motor that functions like that of the Chevrolet Volt.
The conversion is said to improve fuel efficiency by 80-200 percent, and with this, ALTe has aspirations to ultimately partner with major manufacturers as an original equipment solutions provider.
