2012: The Year Ford gets serious about hybrids?
Ford's Car of the YearIsn't Ford already serious about hybrid vehicles? I mean didn't the Fusion hybrid just win the North American Car of the Year Award?
I know. I'm just a cynic.
Still, when Toyota is selling 150,000 Prius hybrids per year, it's hard for me to call the Fusion hybrid the the 'Car of the Year' when Ford could only sell 20 something thousand Fusion hybrids last year - a year in which the Fusion hybrid qualified for federal tax credits and the Prius did not.
Anyway. In my opinion, Ford's biggest hybrid problem ultimately stems from Ford's reluctance to embrace NiMH batteries. Unfortunately, in many ways, I can understand Ford's disinterest in any serious hybrid production numbers. There's little - if any - profit potential for Ford until lithium replaces NiMH as the battery of choice in Ford hybrids.
That change should begin in 2012. In that year, Ford's investments into advanced battery technology, including a battery lab - like GM - to assemble battery packs, will begin powering a next generation hybrid along with a plug-in hybrid.
Until then, Ford's upcoming Focus EV will probably take the center stage for Ford's green efforts as NiMH technology is slowly phased out of Ford's hybrids.
Labels: Ford, Ford fusion hybrid
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:26 AM
6 Comments:
Aren't most of the companies sort of holding back for a couple more years ?
That's the impression I'm getting... none of them is "rushing" ... right?
then we have this headline on the WSJ:
" GM Bets on Trucks for Recovery
General Motors has freed up cash to fund a major update of its full-size pickups, a bet that consumers and businesses will resume buying them."
cool huh?
What's the rush anyway? Its only a Chinese entrpreneur backed by Warren Buffet pushing ahead on environmentally innovative cars!Read this on Forbes.com http://bit.ly/91LYVy
Whet ever may be the reason of choosing the Fusion Hybrid car for award, but surely the event will boost its business in the world market like anything.
Most companies are holding back because there is not much profit margin in the short run for these vehicles.....
It will be great for the future of Fords if they start producing more hybrid car because the present customers are waiting for more hybrid cars.
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