Ford’s electrification strategy builds on Ford’s vision of affordable, eco-friendly vehicles.

Ford’s electrification strategy involves three types of electrified vehicles – Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) – to provide consumers with significant fuel economy improvements and reduced CO2 emissions without compromising their driving experience.

To start, Ford will introduce in North America during the next four years:

  • A new battery electric commercial van in 2010
  • A new battery electric small car in 2011 to be developed jointly with Magna International
  • Next-generation hybrid vehicles, including a plug-in version by 2012

These new vehicles pave the way for additional applications in the future, using Ford’s high-volume global small car and midsize car platforms.

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Battery Electric Vehicles do not use a drop of fuel. Instead of an internal combustion engine, the BEV features a high-voltage electric motor, which takes its power from a battery pack charged by plugging in to a 110-volt or 220-volt outlet.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

The Hybrid Electric Vehicle combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery. Electric power is used for vehicle launch and lower-speed operation. The internal combustion engine takes over for higher demand operation and charges the battery.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles combine HEV technology with a high-voltage storage battery like that used in a BEV. Ford’s PHEV is what is known as a blended PHEV – optimally first using the charge of the battery and then running in regular hybrid mode for the best possible fuel, smallest battery and most affordable customer solution. On startup, it operates in charge-depletion mode, providing up to 30 equivalent electric miles of range, and then switches to charge-sustaining hybrid mode for continued optimal fuel economy.

The electrification strategy takes advantage of rapid advancements in electrified vehicle technology – particularly Lithium-ion batteries – while leveraging the scale of global vehicle platforms to bring the cost of new technology down.