USA Today: Electric-powered Ford future plans.

[johnstarnes]

"But I agree, for the Volt is far fetched to be regarded as a catalyst for anything, since is not yet in the market, nor do we know what is capable off . . . or when will it actually be available."

Wow I thought I'd made a simple observation and someone who considers himself "privileged" in this world misses a simple point. I will try again.....I see the Volt as a catalyst because it has so many of us talking and thinking about electric powertrains, and the many configurations and applications that may be created as this process continues and accelerates. And now OTHER car manufacturers are talking about and developing plug-in and other electric vehicles across the board. GEESH!

[fp115]

Originally Posted by Simon says

Would you care to explain then . . . how is the BEV Focus "still behind on the technological advancements of the Volt"? Can it be just a different approach? How is the Volt better per se without neither car having been tested in real life situations? (well the Focus kind of has with the current body LINK)

The Focus has almost double the range of the Volt (75 miles v. 40 for the Volt) but wont have a range extender. I see different approaches to the same problem, I just don't see how you can say one is better than the other . . . yet.

The Focus will be introduced as a limited range vehicle. When I say limited range I don't mean 40 miles on the Volt or 75 miles on the Focus, I mean that the Volt is just as practical as your average car. You won't need to own more than one car if you want to go a bit further to do some shopping or have to look closely at the electric gauge. Its not to say that sort of range is bad, it will simply be cumbersome to a large majority of car buyers.

What puts the Volt ahead is not that it is a GM, but rather the battery technology and driving capabilities. Running such a system is extremely complex and people think it can be easily copied. Most people don't understand the technology or anything behind the Volt and try to down play it. Ford has done a lot of research into EV, but is still behind GM in research by at least 2-3 years, though well ahead of Toyota and Honda.

All solutions are good for alternative fuel sources, but I simply do not feel that an all electric vehicle is a viable alternative.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by johnstarnes

"But I agree, for the Volt is far fetched to be regarded as a catalyst for anything, since is not yet in the market, nor do we know what is capable off . . . or when will it actually be available."

Wow I thought I'd made a simple observation and someone who considers himself "privileged" in this world misses a simple point. I will try again.....I see the Volt as a catalyst because it has so many of us talking and thinking about electric powertrains, and the many configurations and applications that may be created as this process continues and accelerates. And now OTHER car manufacturers are talking about and developing plug-in and other electric vehicles across the board. GEESH!

I may have missed your point. What I read from it is that Ford was going off the Volt concept, which I think is false for the time being. Given they are moving ahead in research, they are still missing a few years of research to develop a true Volt competitor. The technology that Ford is putting out will put the Prius in its place, because the concept of the technology Ford will be using for the next 3 years is off an improved system similar to the Fusion.

[Simon says]

Originally Posted by fp115

The Focus will be introduced as a limited range vehicle. When I say limited range I don't mean 40 miles on the Volt or 75 miles on the Focus, I mean that the Volt is just as practical as your average car. You won't need to own more than one car if you want to go a bit further to do some shopping or have to look closely at the electric gauge. Its not to say that sort of range is bad, it will simply be cumbersome to a large majority of car buyers.

What puts the Volt ahead is not that it is a GM, but rather the battery technology and driving capabilities. Running such a system is extremely complex and people think it can be easily copied. Most people don't understand the technology or anything behind the Volt and try to down play it. Ford has done a lot of research into EV, but is still behind GM in research by at least 2-3 years, though well ahead of Toyota and Honda.

All solutions are good for alternative fuel sources, but I simply do not feel that an all electric vehicle is a viable alternative.

Fair enough, I see nothing wrong with this reasoning. Who knew we could hold a dialog . . . .

Ford is not especially bullish with this BEV Focus and I think the reason is probably what you are saying. Still, that 2012 plug in hybrid intrigues me terribly . . . .

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by fp115

I may have missed your point. What I read from it is that Ford was going off the Volt concept, which I think is false for the time being. Given they are moving ahead in research, they are still missing a few years of research to develop a true Volt competitor. The technology that Ford is putting out will put the Prius in its place, because the concept of the technology Ford will be using for the next 3 years is off an improved system similar to the Fusion.

I'd like to politely suggest that you refine your reading comprehension skills, plus acquire a broader body of data, before "going off" on people here as you do fairly often. You needlessly transformed what was an interesting exchange into something negative due to your not "getting" a simple observation I made about our witnessing motor vehicles evolving into ones powered by electricity.

[Extreme4x4]

Thank you John.

As you have probably seen, this is not an uncommon problem. The general point of contention usually evolves around a thread with the word "Ford" in it.

The reality being, as others have said, that we do not know how far ahead, or behind, Ford is, in regards to alternative propulsion. We will know more, when said vehicles are available. We do know that Ford is working on a wide range of alternative solutions.

One could just as easily say that Ford is ahead of GM on EV vehicles, while GM is ahead of Ford on EV's with range extenders. We will know more, again, when said vehicles are available for testing. I do think we can comfortably say, as fp actually elequently stated, that Ford and GM are far ahead of others.

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by Extreme4x4

Thank you John.

As you have probably seen, this is not an uncommon problem. The general point of contention usually evolves around a thread with the word "Ford" in it.

The reality being, as others have said, that we do not know how far ahead, or behind, Ford is, in regards to alternative propulsion. We will know more, when said vehicles are available. We do know that Ford is working on a wide range of alternative solutions.

One could just as easily say that Ford is ahead of GM on EV vehicles, while GM is ahead of Ford on EV's with range extenders. We will know more, again, when said vehicles are available for testing. I do think we can comfortably say, as fp actually elequently stated, that Ford and GM are far ahead of others.

You are welcome. I agree with all your points. As a chronic optimist in spite of it all, I am really enjoying seeing vehicles being redefined as technological advances and imagination allow. When I was in 5th grade in 1963 we all imagined moon bases and Mars bases and flying cars by now.....2009 sounded SO FAR in the future! But here in 2009 cars etc., STILL burn carbon-based fossil fuels at very low rates of efficiency. I am 56 and my goal is to reach a robust 94 (at least), then drop dead (in the middle of one of my frequent flying dreams would be best of all) while shaving like my grandpa did....so to see all these cool cars like Volt and Leaf and the "skateboard" technology and Converj and this Transit and so much more truly excites me and makes me feel that my hopefulness has merit...and thrills me to try to imagine how cool cars might be when I hit 89.

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by Simon says

I really don't know how but I am glad they did it. I don't think it has a range extender so its more intended to urban commutes and commercial uses.

What I am dying to hear details about is this 2012 plug-in hybrid vehicle.

I think its great that Ford is not shying away from the exploration and commercialization of alternative energy sources and its coming with this electric hybrid onslaught.

You sound like you might be inherently curious about things as I am. Who knows what that 2012 plug-in hybrid will be, plus I like to think that by 2020 the fossil fuel powered ICE will itself be largely a fossil...very exciting time to be into cars!

[2b2]

Originally Posted by Simon says

...this BEV Focus...
...Still, that 2012 plug in hybrid intrigues me terribly . . .

imho (& that's all it is)
the BEV Focus is just/mostly making use of the same batteries that are going into Fomoco's range-extender model...
...aka their barely rumored Whitespace vehicle (imho)

...OH! & MAKE IT A MERC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!please!

[SwampFoxZ71]

Didn't Ford recently say they saw no value in all electric vehicles??? This trumpet fanfare leaves me scratching my head.

[theoldwizard]

It will be interesting to see if Ford can really bring out the BEV version of the Transit Connect on its original schedule after Smith Electric backed out and was replaced by Azure.