May 6, 2009

Ford Shifting SUV Plant to Electric Vehicles

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Ford is retooling a Michigan SUV plant to produce its more fuel-efficient Ford Focus, including an electric version in 2011.

Ford is spending $550 million to transform the plant into a modern, flexible small car plant, with help from Michigan state incentives. The plant formerly made the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, two of Ford’s largest SUVs.

The company has promised to introduce four new electric vehicles by 2012.

The electric Ford Focus is being developed with Magna International. It uses a lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged by both 110-volt and 220-volt outlets..

Ford’s other electric vehicle plans include:

  • a commercial vehicle dubbed Transit Connect, in collaboration with Smith Electric. The vehicle is planned for 2010.
  • a plug-in hybrid for 2012.

The plant will employ so-called “flexible manufacturing,” meaning that at least 80 percent of the robotic equipment an be programmed to weld vehicles of various sizes and shapes. The non-product specific manufacturing scheme offers more flexibility to add product lines, according to a press release.

Ford came in second only to Honda in patents for electric and hybrid vehicles in 2008.

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this story.

 

Advertisers

Get EL Daily in your inbox, subscribe to free newsletter

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

  • 03/12/2010
  • 03/11/2010
  • 03/10/2010

Recent Jobs

Post a Job
Jobs powered by Simply Hired

Comments and Discussions

Cisco on Loblaw Launches Four Rooftop Solar Pilot Projects
"Great to see the new investment in the Solar industry in Ontario. A local fabricator of..."

Iryna on 3M Shares Tips for Managing Energy Use
"Well done! 3M is being ahead as always!"

Jacob on Federal Regulators Eliminate Red Tape for Offshore Wind Turbine Projects
"I am a graduate student in Florida doing research on the feasibility..."

Mark on Wraps Taken Off All-electric Commercial Pickup/Delivery Van
"Creating an electric drive system for delivery trucks makes total sense and is a..."

Brad on Will 2010 be the Year Home Efficiency Finally Takes Off?
"Andy, When it starts to hit the consumer in the wallet with more impact that’s..."

Robert on Retail Ring Lower for Eco-Label Wines
"Readers should be aware that this article is summarized from the researchers’ comments about..."

Richard Young on Kraft Foods Yields Big Savings from Small Environmental Changes in Global Offices
"Good for Kraft and thanks for featuring successes..."