Ford poised for hybrid leadership?
New hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs by 2012We've heard it before. Ford was going to become a hybrid leader, then they weren't. Of course, now there is also a new sheriff in town with new rules and new plans.
Ford's new CEO, Alan Mulally, achieved much success striving for efficiency while at Boeing. Can he do the same with the only US automaker not to yet need any government loan help thanks to Mulally's restructing efforts after taking over Ford's helm?
That's what many are wondering thanks to a recent statement Ford made when it announced new plans for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs by 2012, which are to be elaborated upon at NAIAS.
In the past, I would have poooh-pooohed such news as just greenwashing, but considering the engineering success of the Ford Fusion hybrid and its new hybrid powertrain, there is reason to be hopeful.
Still, is this all just PR and congressional-pointed propaganda, or do you think Ford is ready to become a real leader in hybrid and EV technology? And, I define real leadership as not just technology, but significant sales. Can Ford become a hybrid sales leader within the next five years?
Labels: electric cars, Ford, ford fus, Hybrid Vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
11:57 AM
8 Comments:
Fix Or Repair Daily, a leader? I think you should have stuck to your greenwashing suspicions.
Last studies I saw indicate that Ford has made huge strides in quality. In fact, they are almost on par with Toyota and Honda if I'm not mistaken.
That certainly doesn't mean they are ready to assume any hybrid leadership, but the Ford Fusion hybrid is a real product and that gives me hope. Certainly, I'm still worried about the fact that Ford only plans on selling 25,000 Fusion hybrids per year.
Also, instead of the Fusion hybrid, I would have preferred to see Ford challenge the Prius directly.
The only leader in hybrids is BYD. Period. All these big companies are at least two years behind them.
BYD? Are you serious?
BYD has NEVER produced a car that can pass US safety standards.
When BYD can produce tens of thousands of cars per month for the US market, then I might agree with you, until then however.....
Is this a safety blog or a hybrid blog? BYD are the ONLY mass manufacturer with a plug-in hybrid in their lineup - a good two years before anyone else.
you obviously know nothing about automotive manufacturing.
Seriously, what's more difficult TODAY? Engineering for safety or engineering a plug-in hybrid? Save for some of the exotic features on makes like Volvo, most safety features are old hat these days.
BYD has access to cheap, domestic lithium, and top expertise in cutting-edge battery technology - these are things that set BYD apart. Now Toyota, GM, Ford, and the rest have to play catch up.
I'm certainly not saying that I'm not impressed with BYD, just not as impressed as you.
If BYD has perfected mass production of safe lithium battery packs that are guaranteed to last ten years, then BYD might be exactly what you claim.
However, engineering a few hundred plug-in hybrids, or even a few thousand, really isn't that remarkable of an engineering feet. Garage mechanics are converting conventional Prius hybrids into plug-in hybrids in a day.
Toyota could easily roll out a several thousand plug-in Prius hybrids, that isn't the issue. It's the reliability of the battery technology, especially if you start mass-producing enough batteries for a million plug-in hybrids.
If BYD can mass produce enough batteries for 100,000 PHEVs - with guaranteed reliability - then as a battery company, they might already be ahead of everyone.
Still, producing 100,000 such vehicles every year will be a major benchmark. So, until an automaker does that, I'm not calling anyone a leader.
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