Ford to Make Electrified Versions of Some Popular Vehicles by 2020

Good news to all electric vehicle (EV) fans: Ford recently announced that it is producing seven global electrified vehicles within the next five years. This move is part of the company's expansion plan not just to be a leader in electric and autonomous vehicles, but also to pioneer in auto and mobility solutions and services worldwide.

The company plans to invest $700 million to build autonomous and electric vehicles in its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan alongside the iconic Mustang and Lincoln Continental. This move will help create 700 new jobs in the U.S.

“As more and more consumers around the world become interested in electrified vehicles, Ford is committed to being a leader in providing consumers with a broad range of electrified vehicles, services and solutions that make people’s lives better,”  said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “Our investments and expanding lineup reflect our view that global offerings of electrified vehicles will exceed gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 15 years.”

The company's focus is to build "electrified" versions of its popular, commercial cars, SUVs, trucks, and other performance vehicles, which include the following:

Small Electric SUV

This little ute will be built at the Flat Rock plant and engineered to give an estimated range of 300 miles. It will be available by 2020, and sold in North America, Asia, and Europe.

Mustang Hybrid

Initially available in North America, the Mustang Hybrid will be built alongside the standard Mustang at the Flat Rock Assembly. It will debuting in 2020, and will have an identical power to a V8 (with a more low-end torque).

F-150 Hybrid

Ford's hybrid truck will be available by 2020 and built at the Dearborn truck plant. There will also be a rear-drive hybrid truck included in this lineup. The F-150 Hybrid will utilize a lightweight aluminum structure to accommodate its powerful towing and payload capacity. What’s more, it can also serve as a mobile generator on a job site. The F-150 Hybrid will only be available in North America and the Middle East.

Aside from these three models, Ford is also planning to create the following specialized EVs:

Autonomous Hybrid

This Level 4 hybrid vehicle will make its debut in 2021 starting in North America. It is a high-volume, autonomous car that's designed for commercial ride hailing or ride sharing. The autonomous hybrid will be built on Flat Rock, and a hybrid powertrain will be used for this vehicle.

Transit Custom plug-in Hybrid

The Transit Customized Plug-In hybrid will be made available in Europe by 2019. This vehicle is expected to lessen operating costs in their overcrowded streets.

Police Inceptor Hybrids

Two brand-new, pursuit-rated hybrid police vehicles are also in the works, with one of the vehicles built in Chicago. Both cars will be also be fitted with police gear at Ford’s police car modification center in Chicago.

20 Transit Connect Hybrid Taxis testing in the US

These Transit Connect Hybrid Taxis will be utilized in the busy streets of New York and other major US cities.

Ford will use EcoBoost technology instead of normally-aspirated engines to power up its global utility lineup, and its goal is to further increase the fuel efficiency and performance of its vehicles. The company is also managing a wireless technology that will make recharging EVs more convenient and easier than ever -- as simple as pulling into a parking spot to make recharging easier for drivers to remember.

Delivering Electronic Vehicle Technology and Services to the World

Ford’s two decades of experience and leadership in EVs and commercial cars have taught them valuable lessons when it comes to using patented technology in their cars.

"Ford’s global EV strategy is built on our strengths,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Product Development, and chief technical officer. “While some others seem to be focused on marketing claims and numbers, we’re focused on providing customers even more of what they love about their Ford vehicles. This means more capability for trucks, more productivity for commercial vehicles and more performance for sports cars – plus improved fuel economy.”

The company not only strives to make electric vehicles easier use, but also provides innovative ways to expand their EV services. Right now, the company is pursuing an aggressive plan to create a global electronic vehicle assistance and solutions services that introduces EV route planning, telematics solutions, and fleet management.

“Innovative services can be as important to customers as the electrified vehicles themselves,” said Hau Thai-Tang, group vice president of Purchasing and Ford’s EV champion. “We are investing in solutions to help private customers as well as commercial fleet owners seamlessly incorporate these new vehicles and technologies into their lives.”

Presently, Ford ranks first in plug-in hybrid brand and second in overall U.S. electrified vehicles sales.