When Michigan’s Gov. Jennifer Granholm arrived at Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center in Detroit for a tour of the 2009 North American International Auto Show it was in a battery electric Ford Focus demonstration vehicle driven by Nancy Gioia, director, Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs.

“At first, she was surprised that it wasn’t merely a concept car, but actually a road-ready demonstrator of battery electric vehicle technology,” Gioia says. “I think she was wowed by how it’s quiet, smooth and fun to drive – that it’s a no compromise driving experience.”

Gioia told the governor about Ford Motor Company’s aggressive plan to bring a family of electric vehicles to the North American market by 2012. Ford will introduce four new vehicles in four years including a new battery electric commercial van in 2010, a new battery electric small car in 2011 to be developed jointly with Magna International, a next-generation hybrid vehicle, and a plug-in hybrid by 2012.

Granholm was reportedly impressed that Ford’s battery-powered small car planned for 2011 has a targeted range of up to 100 miles on a single charge, without using a single drop of gasoline.

Gioia and Granholm also discussed what Ford’s plan could mean for Michigan in terms of technology development, engineering and potentially manufacturing both on the vehicle level and component level.

“She’s very excited that Ford is leading the way in the electrification of vehicles,” Gioia says. “She also kidded me that I drive too fast, but I wanted to be sure she knew how peppy this electric vehicle is.”