Ford Motor Company has unveiled its all-new Focus Electric – the company’s first-ever all-electric passenger car. The zero-CO2-emissions, gasoline-free version of Ford’s popular small car is the flagship of the company’s growing fleet of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles coming to North America and Europe by 2013. “Focus Electric is the flagship of our new family of electrified vehicles, showcasing our commitment to offer consumers choice when it comes to fuel-efficient or fuel-free vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development. “Its advanced powertrain will deliver significant energy efficiency advantages and zero CO2 emissions without compromising driving enjoyment. And its suite of smart driver information technologies will transform the way customers think about energy usage and their transportation needs.”

The Focus Electric will launch in late 2011 and is designed to offer enough range to cover the majority of daily driving habits of Americans. It will offer a mile-per-gallon equivalent better than Chevrolet Volt and competitive with other battery electric vehicles. A full recharge is expected to take three to four hours at home with the 240-volt charge station –half the charge time of the Nissan Leaf. Focus Electric introduces new features and technologies – including a unique version of the MyFord Touch driver connect system especially for electric vehicles, a new value charging feature powered by Microsoft and a smartphone app called MyFord Mobile that helps plug-in owners control their vehicles remotely.

FOCUS ELECTRIC

The sleek and stylish five-door hatchback leverages Ford’s global C-car platform shared by the gasoline and diesel-powered Focus models, which debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show and were launched at the Paris Motor Show in September. Both Focus gasoline and electric variants to be sold in North America will be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., with production powered in part by one of the largest solar energy generator systems in the state. For European markets, a decision on where the Focus Electric will be built is currently being finalized. Focus Electric is one of five new electrified vehicles included in Ford’s electrification strategy. Initial deliveries of Transit Connect Electric began in North America at the end of last year and the vehicle will be launched in Europe later in 2011.

START BUILDING GREEN

THINK, the world’s leading dedicated electric vehicle maker, has delivered its first U.S.-built cars to the State of Indiana for use in its government fleet. The 15 vehicles, which were shipped from THINK’s manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Ind., will be the first electric passenger vehicles with American-made, Lithium-ion batteries used in a U.S. fleet operation.

“We’re proud to be the first manufacturer to deliver an all-electric car built in the U.S. with an advanced battery that suits the needs of government and commercial fleet operators,” said THINK CEO Barry Engle. “Our delivery today is part of a larger effort to help transform the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet from one that is mostly dependent on imported oil, to one that is fueled entirely by domestically produced electric energy.”

“As part of that goal, we’ve made a strategic decision to target initially the many millions of fleet vehicles in operation in the U.S. market,” Mr. Engle added. “These fleets can jumpstart vehicle electrification in America’s cities and help push the industry past early adopters into mainstream consumer markets. Fleet sales will drive up vehicle and battery production volumes and drive down costs, which will benefit retail consumers.”

The economics of electric vehicles for fleet operators in terms of cost of ownership are highly positive. With defined travel routes and centralized recharging and service, fleets are the natural platform to launch this new industry

INSIGHT

Hertz and smart USA today announced a joint partnership to bring electric vehicles to Connect by Hertz car sharing and Hertz Rent A Car locations in New York, Washington, DC, and San Francisco. The vehicle placements are part of the Hertz Global EV program, which will offer a variety of 100 percent electric and plug-in hybrids to car sharing and rental customers worldwide. The smart fortwo electric drive will be available for rent through Connect by Hertz car sharing in New York City beginning December 15.

Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said “Hertz’s partnership with smart USA is another strategic element of our long term plan to provide consumers with electric vehicle access on a global scale. With its worldwide recognition, smart was a logical choice for our program and we’re excited to begin offering the smart electric drive to our customers later this month.” “The smart for two electric drive is the ultimate statement on conservation, from materials to space to natural resources, and further defines the independent spirit of smart,” said Jill Lajdziak, president of smart USA. “We are thrilled to place vehicles with Hertz and offer consumers the opportunity to experience the joy of driving a smart for two while showcasing the benefits of electric technology.”

As announced in September, Hertz Global EV is championing an electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle mobility ecosystem, incorporating transportation options and a charging station grid for ease of use. Hertz Global EV will be the first company to provide a range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and charging stations on a car sharing and rental basis at global scale. The smart for two electric drive joins EVs from other manufacturers as part of Hertz Global EV’s diverse fleet. The smart fortwo electric drive vehicle is engineered to package advanced technology while maintaining the car’s design history. It is powered by a 30 kW drive magneto-electric motor and 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. Using a 220V outlet, it takes only three and a half hours to charge the battery from 20 to 80 percent of its capacity and less than eight hours to fully charge it.

MORE ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES

This year China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced the New Energy Vehicle Promotion Plan, whereby the government will invest over 100 billion Yuan during the period 2011 – 2020 to promote energy conservation and develop the “new energy vehicle” industry supply chain. China is on a path to become the world’s largest car market. At the same time, the Chinese government is working actively to promote the development of the electric vehicle market in China through the use of policy tools. During the period of implementation of China’s 11th Five-year Plan, the Chinese government will be investing 7.5 billion Yuan in the development of vehicles powered by alternative energy sources, and a government subsidy of 60,000 Yuan will be provided for every electric vehicle sold.

According to Snow Tsao of the Department of Investment Services in Taipai, Taiwanese firms benefit from sharing a common linguistic and cultural background with their Chinese counterparts. Some Taiwanese companies have been active in the China market for two decades, and have acquired an in-depth understanding of Chinese business culture. This insider knowledge will be very helpful for international corporations seeking to develop the business opportunities that the Chinese electric vehicle market offers. Foreign companies can also benefit from Taiwanese firms’ expertise in both large-volume manufacturing and the small-volume manufacturing of large numbers of different product types; by working with Taiwanese partner companies, international corporations can rapidly reduce their manufacturing costs and retail prices.

“Smart” electric vehicles constitute one of the four “smart” industries whose growth the Taiwanese government is promoting. Taiwan’s Executive Yuan has approved the Intelligent Electric Vehicle Development Strategies and Action Plan, whereby a “model” pilot project will be initiated in 2011. In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has formulated the Key Points Regarding the Provision of Subsidies and Incentives for Electric Vehicle Development, under which the government will be subsidizing the purchase of electric vehicles by consumers in Taiwan. Through these measures, the Taiwanese government is actively promoting the development of the electric vehicle industry in Taiwan.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES