Having established its global electric vehicle plans, Ford has now revealed its intentions for the European market.
The company will introduce five full electric or hybrid vehicles across the C, CD and light commercial vehicle ranges by 2013. This will include two zero-emission battery electric vehicles including the Ford Transit Connect Electric in 2011 and the Ford Focus Electric in 2012. Three additional vehicles will also be introduced including two next-generation hybrids and a plug-in hybrid.
Unsurprisingly, the Focus Electric will be based on the next-generation Ford Focus and will be one of at least 10 vehicles created on the company’s C-car platform. It will debut in the US and Canada in 2011 followed by Europe in 2012. The Ford Transit Connect Electric meanwhile goes on sale in North America later this year.
Ford has already established a hybrid presence in North America with both the Ford Escape and Ford Fusion Hybrids and is planning to expand its presence into Europe – further details of its hybrid offerings will be revealed closer to launch.
Also planned are two specific European trial initiatives that aim to demonstrate the technology in real world driving conditions and generate feedback. In the UK, Ford has formed a consortium with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Strathclyde University with plans to introduce a fleet of Ford Focus electric vehicle prototypes using elements of the technology under development for the new Focus Electric. They will be evaluated by both SSE staff members and fleet and private customers.
Meanwhile, in Germany, Ford has announced its participation in the Cologne-Mobil project to research the impact of electric vehicles on urban air quality and to look into electricity supply infrastructure. It is one of four partners in the project, the others being utility company RheinEnergie AG, the City of Cologne and the University of Duisburg-Essen.
