FORD’S PLUG-IN HYBRID: 5-10 YEARS?

NewEnergyNews drove an electric car at the Edison Rosemead facility about a decade ago. Wanna know what happened to the electric car? Check out Marc Geller at Plugs and Cars.

Ford sees plug-in hybrids in 5-10 years
Bernie Woodall (w/Poornima Gupta), July 9, 2007 (Reuters)

WHO
Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally, Southern California Edison (SCE), John Bryson, SCE parent Edison International CEO

WHAT
At the unveiling of a first-of-its-kind joint project between Ford and SCE to develop/test a fleet of 20 plug-in hybrids, Mulally said he expects Ford to be selling plug-in hybrids in 5 to 10 years.
See the posting in the left hand column: "Plug-In Hybrids -- The Cars That Will ReCharge America"

WHEN
Statement July 9.
20 model year 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid sport utility vehicles will be delivered to SCE by the end of 2007 and reconfigured to work as plug-ins by 2009.

WHERE
Statement in Rosemead, CA.

WHY
- Mulally said “yes” when asked if he meant the vehicles would be on showroom floors 5-10 years. He stipulated the limiting factor is the advancement of lithium ion battery technology.
- The new project puts Ford back in the race with Toyota and GM to develop technology widely seen to be the future of automotive transportation. GM’s plug-in hybrid Volt is announced for production and showrooms in 2010.
- The “real world” test will put the 20 vehicles, equipped with “smart meters” to monitor vehicle performance with test drivers.
- Rollout is Ford-dependent and Ford lost $12.6 million on its 2004 Escape hybrid gas-electric.
- Bryson and Mulally know each other from working together at Boeing. Mulally is widely credited with renewing Boeing’s financial viability by transitioning the company to the use of lighter, more energy-efficient materials. Many expect him to do the same at Ford.
- SCE has long advocated electric vehicles and incentives for their development.
There is a passionate plug-in hybrid movement waiting a major car company to put a PHEV on the market and start something really important.

QUOTES
- Mulally: "Within five to 10 years we will start to see this technology in our hands… I can't go further than that. We will know a lot more in the next few years."
- Environmental activists Rainforest Action Network and Global Exchange Campaign statement: “Consumers have been waiting a long time for an automaker to offer the next generation of ultra-fuel-efficient, gasoline-optional cars…"