North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Detroit, MI – Derrick Kuzak is group vice president, Global Product Development, The Americas. Kuzak introduced different types of electric vehicles that will come out from 2010-2012. The first will be a commercial van that is battery electric.
Kuzak announced that Ford Motor Co. Ltd. is teaming up with Aurora, Co based Magna International Inc. to create a battery electric vehicle (BEV). The BEVs will be focus and fusion sized cars. Ford is aiming for a driving range of 100 miles per charge on it’s lithium-ion battery.
Kuzak said that Ford will bring out another hybrid in 2010, but the BEV will be different. Currently, hybrids are powered by an on-board electric motor with a gasoline engine. The new generation of battery electric autos will be powered by batteries. Depending on whether the charger is a 110-220V outlet it will take up to eight hours.
Ford says that 2012 will see a plug-in electric hybrid.