Ford reveals details of electrified vehicles and charging solutions

Ford reveals details of electrified vehicles and charging solutions

16 September 2019

Ford has revealed details of its line-up of electrified vehicles and charging solutions at the IAA Frankfurt, which will help drive sales that are anticipated to surpass conventional petrol and diesel models by the end of 2022 in Europe.

Ford announced in April that every new Ford passenger vehicle nameplate will include an electrified option – either a mild-hybrid, full-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric – delivering one of the most comprehensive line-ups of electrified options for European customers. The company intends to launch 17 electrified vehicles in Europe by 2024, including eight in 2019.

The carmaker expects electrified powertrains to account for more than half of the company's passenger vehicle sales by the end of 2022, creating a tipping point for Ford's electrified vehicle sales versus conventional petrol and diesel sales. By this time, the company also expects to have sold 1 million electrified passenger vehicles.

Options and needs

′With electrification fast becoming the mainstream, we are substantially increasing the number of electrified models and powertrain options for our customers to choose from to suit their needs,' said Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe. ′By making it easier than ever to seamlessly shift into an electrified vehicle, we expect the majority of our passenger vehicle sales to be electrified by the end of 2022.'

′There is no ′one-size-fits-all' solution when it comes to electrification – every customer's circumstances and travel needs are different,' said Joerg Beyer, executive director, Engineering, Ford of Europe.

′Our strategy is to pair the right electrified powertrain option to the right vehicle, helping our customers make their electrified vehicle experience easy and enjoyable.'

Ford's stand at the Frankfurt show demonstrated this strategy of aligning with particular need with the most extensive line-up of electrified vehicles that the company has ever displayed, including:

″¢ The plug-in hybrid variant of the all-new Puma mid-size SUV – Ford's most electrified vehicle ever and the first Ford to offer mild-hybrid, self-charging full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains;

″¢ Plug-in hybrid variants of the all-new Explorer seven-seat SUV and the Tourneo Custom eight-seat people carrier – each offering pure-electric driving capability alongside the driving range and freedom offered by a traditional combustion engine;

″¢ The new Puma EcoBoost hybrid, featuring sophisticated mild-hybrid technology for reduced CO2 emissions, optimised fuel efficiency, and a more responsive and rewarding driving experience; and

″¢ The Ford Mondeo hybrid estate car, featuring self-charging, full-hybrid, petrol-electric powertrain technology that offers a compelling alternative to diesel and offers pure electric driving for refinement particularly in city and stop-start driving scenarios.

Ford's new Mustang-inspired all-electric performance SUV will arrive in 2020, with a targeted pure-electric driving range of 600 km (more than 370 miles) calculated using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), and fast-charging capability.

Energy-supply partnerships

Ford will partner with six leading energy suppliers across Europe to provide home charging wall box installation services and green energy tariffs for plug-in hybrid customers, enabling simpler, faster and more affordable charging of electrified vehicles

′Our partnerships with leading energy suppliers including Centrica allow us to offer a one-stop shop for charging, including supply, installation, and special green-energy tariffs for our fast-charging wall box,' said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.

Ford's wall-box solution will deliver up to 50 per cent more charging power than a typical domestic socket to reduce at-home charging times by up to one-third for customers of Ford's plug-in hybrid models.

The company is also set to work with Centrica to offer services in the UK and Ireland. Ford's energy partners will also make their installation services available to support Ford's dealership network across Europe.

Smart device app

It is also introducing a new smartphone and tablet application that will enable its plug-in hybrid vehicle owners and operators to easily locate, navigate to and pay for charging. In partnership with NewMotion, Ford offers access to the largest public-charging network with extensive coverage across Europe. The new app will deliver simplified access and payment for Ford customers at more than 118,000 charging points in 30 countries. Customers will be able to seamlessly use charging points across many markets, initiating and paying for charging services from a single account for a simplified ownership experience.

In addition, in combination with the available FordPass Connect on-board modem, the FordPass mobile app enables Ford plug-in hybrid drivers to remotely monitor their vehicle's charge status.

Ford is a founder member and shareholder in the IONITY consortium that aims to build 400 fast-charging stations in key European locations by 2020, with a charging capacity of 350 kW. This enables a significant reduction in charging times for all-electric vehicles compared with existing systems – ideal for long-distance journeys.

Kia and Hyundai recently announced their investment in IONITY and the venture has presented its new high-power charger (HPC) at the Frankfurt show.