Ford to be 25% Electric by 2020
Original Source: http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com
Author: Thomas Miner
Original Publication Date: June 25, 2010
June 25, 2010 – Nancy Gioia, Ford’s director of global electrification, told the Automotive News Green Car Conference last week that between 10% and 25% of its fleet volume will integrate batteries into the drive train by the year 2020, compared to 2% today.
Because of the current state of electrics and available infrastructure, about 75% of those vehicles are expected to be hybrid vehicles, integrating electric drives with gasoline or other fuel powered engines. That leaves 30% left over for plug-in hybrids and all electric vehicles, with the plug-ins expected to dominate the space.
Across the globe automakers are betting big on electric vehicles – and with reason. According to a study by Cenex, 72% of drivers who tested electric vehicles over an extended period of time were willing to switch their full-time vehicle to all electric. Some of the largest opportunities seen by manufacturers are in corporate fleets, where centralized charging infrastructure can be easier to manage and install.
In December, Nissan will be first to market with an all-electric vehicle, the Leaf. After incentives, it could cost consumers less than the price of the world’s most popular gas/electric hybrid, the Toyota Prius. The Leaf will travel approximately 100 miles per charge and Nissan has already secured 14,000 reservations for December delivery.
