• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

Archives for December 11, 2015

Ford Announces $4.5 Billion Electrification Initiative

December 11, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

The Ford Motor Company is about to embrace electric vehicles in a big way. On Thursday, the automaker announced plans to invest $4.5 billion over the next five years to bring 13 new or updated EV nameplates to the market. By 2020, at least 40 percent of Ford’s nameplates will have an electrification option.

The announcement comes as fuel prices are among the lowest we have seen this century. Indeed, a gallon of regular fuel will cost you less than $2 in most states, approaching levels last seen in 2009. Nevertheless, the long-term trend for fuel prices has it rising gradually over the next five years, with some analysts forecasting $5 per gallon gasoline come 2020. At that price, interest in EVs may intensify, particularly for standard (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

2017 Ford Fusion Energi.
2017 Ford Fusion Energi.

New Battery Electric Ford Focus

Speaking at a press event, Raj Nair, executive vice president, Product Development explained that Ford’s investment will include a $2.1 million contribution for a battery lab at the University of Michigan in a bid to advance research and development. Moreover, the automaker plans to roll out the first of its 13 new or updated products next year, when the battery electric Ford Focus hits the market.

Ford says the next-generation BEV Focus will have a range of approximately 100 miles and offer DC fast-charge capability, enabling it to be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity in about 30 minutes.

However, most of the vehicles included in the initiative will be HEVs and PHEVs, a more sensible decision given the range anxiety inherent in pure electric vehicles. Typically, electric vehicles have a 100-mile average range, but weather and travel conditions can significantly reduce that number according to a 2014 AAA study. Although most consumer trips fall within those limits, an electric vehicle is simply too restrictive for most vehicle owners.

A Truly Global Initiative

Ford’s initiative is global too, as the company will allocate a portion of those funds to battery development in a bid to expand into Asia and Europe. The automaker has targeted China, Korea, and Taiwan as its prime markets for growth.

The automaker isn’t looking solely at electric vehicles as it plans for its growth. Ford also has autonomous vehicles in mind, part of its Ford Smart Mobility plan whereby it will also field a host of products.

“As both an auto and a mobility company, we at Ford are going further than just designing the product to move people from point A to point B,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Product Development. “We are considering the way customers interact with our vehicles as a unified experience, looking for ways to excite and delight customers and make their lives better.”

Competing Manufacturers and Vehicle Electrification

Ford, of course, is not the only major manufacturer investing billions of dollars in vehicle electrification. Toyota, a pioneer in all things hybrid, has a new Prius to show for it and has plans to expand production of its Mirai hydrogen-powered car. GM recently released the second-generation Chevrolet Volt and will also have an all-electric Chevrolet Bolt arriving in 2017.

Other manufacturers are certain to release new or improved products over the coming years. For example, the second-generation Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is here and now includes a PHEV variant. Hyundai is also a pioneer in all things hydrogen.

Fuel Price Trends

As for the lower fuel prices, they’re putting the hurt on EV sales. Instead, consumers are buying pickup trucks and SUVs in greater numbers, vehicles that are much less efficient than gas-powered sedans, but much more profitable for manufacturers too. Likely, some of those profits will fuel EV development with automakers such as Ford hoping that a robust market awaits come 2020.


See Also — Energized by the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: AAA, CHEVROLET BOLT, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, FORD FOCUS BEV, Ford Motor Company, FUEL PRICES, HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID, RAJ NAIR, Technology, Toyota Prius

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II
  • New Duck-Billed Post Office Trucks Has Some People Quacking
  • Vroom! Lexus Reveals the IS 500 F Sport.
  • Introducing the Kia Carnival MPV
  • Goodyear, Cooper Tire to Join Forces

Recent Comments

  • Compact Performance:2021 Cadillac CT4-V — Auto Trends Magazine on Cadillac V-Series Blackwing Preview!
  • About the Fox-Body Ford Mustang — Auto Trends Magazine on Top Down Steed: Ford Mustang GT Premium Convertible
  • About the Fox-Body Ford Mustang — Auto Trends Magazine on A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II
  • 5 Forgettable Cars From the 1970s — Auto Trends Magazine on A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II
  • A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II — Auto Trends Magazine on Book Review: Mustang by Design

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008

Categories

  • Auto Parts
  • Auto Shows
  • Automotive Career
  • Automotive News
  • Book Reviews
  • Car Tips
  • Classics & Discontinued Models
  • Commentary
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Concept Vehicles
  • Dealers
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Fleet
  • Fun News
  • Maintenance & Repairs
  • Motorsport
  • New Models
  • New Vehicle Reviews
  • Ownership Experience
  • Product Reviews
  • Special
  • Specifications

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

New!
Check out our Jobs Board!

via GIPHY

Subscribe to Auto Trends

Subscribe in a reader

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

The Carolinian (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Pages

  • About
  • Authors List
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Industry Jobs
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • A Look Back at the Ford Mustang II
  • New Duck-Billed Post Office Trucks Has Some People Quacking
  • Vroom! Lexus Reveals the IS 500 F Sport.
  • Introducing the Kia Carnival MPV
  • Goodyear, Cooper Tire to Join Forces
  • Highlights of the 2021 Nissan Rogue
  • 7 Facts About the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt
  • Introducing the All-New
    2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV
  • What’s the Future for Chrysler and Dodge Under Stellantis?
  • All About Sobriety Checkpoints
  • Plug It In: Toyota RAV4 Prime
  • About the Volkswagen Taos
  • All-Wheel Drive Finally Comes to the Toyota Camry and We Like It!
  • Growing EV Industry Leaves Countries and Businesses Racing to Meet Increasing Lithium Demand
  • Introducing the All-New 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Crossover SUV
  • At Last! The All-New 2022 Nissan Frontier Revealed.
  • In Photos: 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor!
  • Cadillac V-Series Blackwing Preview!
  • Cost-Effective Crossover: Nissan Kicks
  • 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Car
  • All-New Acura TLX Takes Charge
  • The Golden Years: 6 Memorable Models From the Original Era of Muscle Cars
  • From Datsun to Nissan: 40th Anniversary of the Maxima Sedan
  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • GM Launches BrightDrop, Its Commercial EV Brand
  • The Refreshed and Handsome
    Lexus IS 350 F Sport
  • What We Know About the All-New 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
  • The All-New and Formidable 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • Fuel-Efficiency and AWD Champion: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  • Midsize Performance Master: 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line
  • Performance Hatchback: The All-New 2021 Mazda Mazda3 Turbo!
  • NACTOY Finalists For 2021 Offer Familiar and Futuristic Choices
  • Super Trooper: Nissan Titan Pickup
  • Behind the Wheel of the Popular 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan
  • Lucid Motors Completes Arizona Factory
  • A Robust Turbodiesel Comes to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • Mid-Engine Masterpiece: The Eighth-Generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  • Compact Performance:
    2021 Cadillac CT4-V
  • All-Wheel Drive Supplies the Nissan Altima With a Competitive Edge
  • Return of the Toyota Venza!
  • Lexus Brings a Convertible to the Gorgeous LC 500 Line
  • Stellantis Logo Revealed by Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler Ahead of Spring Merger
  • Preview: 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • How to Fix a Broken Rivian Vehicle
  • Cadillac Gets Most Things Right
    With the XT6 Crossover
  • The High Potency Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Coupe
December 2015
S M T W T F S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Nov   Jan »

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in