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Ford and the University of Michigan Create New Kind of Battery Lab

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A new $8 million battery lab opened earlier this week at the University of Michigan that will help Ford develop batteries that are smaller, lighter and less expensive to produce. The work could accelerate development of battery-powered vehicles that are more efficient and affordable than today’s models and that go farther on a single charge.

Earlier Input in the Development Process.

The lab is a battery manufacturing facility designed to support pilot projects. State-of-the-art manufacturing methods will be used to make test batteries that replicate the performance of full-scale production batteries, allowing for faster implementation in future production vehicles.

“We have battery labs that test and validate production-ready batteries, but that is too late in the development process for us to get our first look,” said Ted Miller, who manages battery research for Ford. “This lab will give us a stepping-stone between the research lab and the production environment, and a chance to have input much earlier in the development process. This is sorely needed, and no one else in the auto industry has anything like it.”

Ford is a Long-Time Supporter of Battery Research

The lab is the result of collaboration between Ford, battery suppliers, the University of Michigan, and the state and federal governments, and it holds the potential for major advancements in extending battery life and durability. Ford, the only automaker to invest in the facility, contributed $2.1 million. Other investors include the University of Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Ford has been supporting battery research for more than 20 years. Last year, the company invested $135 million in design, engineering and production of key battery components, and doubled its battery testing capabilities. Ford was able to accelerate durability testing, with test batteries now accumulating 150,000 miles and 10 years’ life in about 10 months.

Always Improving.

Ford’s electrified vehicle lineup includes five models equipped with advanced lithium-ion batteries. Earlier-generation vehicles featured nickel-metal-hydride batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are about 25 percent to 30 percent smaller, and can provide about three times the power per cell of nickel-metal-hydride batteries.

Miller said locating the lab on a university campus will be a draw for battery suppliers to work on complex problems in a common environment. “We need to work on these problems together in a neutral lab setting,” he said. “This way, we all win. I think you are going to see a lot of companies in the battery supply chain come to Michigan to use this facility, in very short order.”

Source: Ford

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Ford and Energy Department Announce Pledge for Workplace Charging Challenge

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Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced 13 major U.S. employers and eight stakeholder groups have joined the new Workplace Charging Challenge to help expand access to workplace charging stations for American workers across the country.

In a speech at the Washington Auto Show, Secretary Chu outlined the new initiative, which aims to expand the availability of workplace charging, increasing the convenience of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and providing drivers with more options.

“The market for electric vehicles is expanding dramatically, giving drivers more options to save money on gasoline while reducing carbon pollution,” said Secretary Chu. “These 13 companies are taking strong steps to make charging infrastructure more broadly available to their workforce – setting an example for others to follow and helping America lead the global race for a growing industry.”

The Workplace Charging Challenge is a collaborative effort to increase the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging by tenfold in the next five years.

Joined by representatives from several of the founding partner employers, Secretary Chu also announced the first 13 employers that have signed the Workplace Charging Pledge as partners, including: 3M, Chrysler, Duke Energy, Eli Lilly, Ford, GE, GM, Google, Nissan, San Diego Gas & Electric, Siemens, Tesla and Verizon. The pledge commits each partner organization to assess workforce PEV charging demands, and then develop and implement a plan to install workplace charging infrastructure for at least one major worksite location.

PEVs can offer consumers significant advantages over gasoline-powered vehicles, including savings on fuel costs, added convenience and reduced maintenance costs. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline to power a vehicle – generally equivalent to about $1 per gallon – and consumers are able to conveniently fuel up at home.

Source: Ford

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Ford C-MAX Hybrids Outsell Toyota Prius Plug-in and Prius v

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Customers are reacting positively to the new Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and C-MAX Hybrid, which combined to outsell Toyota Prius plug-in and Prius v during November, the first full month both C-MAX hybrids were available.

A total of 4,848 C-MAX hybrids were sold in November compared with a total of 4,456 Toyota Prius plug-in and Prius v hybrids. The C-MAX sales figures helped Ford achieve its best hybrid sales month ever in November with 6,985 delivered.

“The C-MAX hybrids are off to a great start and our dealers and customers, especially in California, cannot get enough of them early in the launch,” said Dave Mondragon, Ford Motor Company general marketing manager.

Ford dealers in California say customer reaction to the C-MAX hybrids has been phenomenal.

“Because Ford has so perfectly hit the nail on the head with C-MAX hybrids, we have a tremendous number of former import buyers in the dealership every weekend who say they are ready to purchase a domestic vehicle,” said Tim Paulus, owner and president of The Ford Store Morgan Hill, located just south of San Jose in Northern California.

The Ford Store Morgan Hill bought a 2013 Prius v and gives customers the chance to drive and compare it with a C-MAX. Paulus says not a single customer prefers the Prius v over the C-MAX hybrids.

“We really weren’t sure if customers in Northern California would give C-MAX hybrids a shot because the region has traditionally been import-heavy,” says Paulus. “But they truly love the vehicle, so it’s very exciting.”

The strong momentum now carries into 2013, as C-MAX Energi and C-MAX Hybrid will kick off the year as Official Cars of the 2013 International CES, the world’s largest annual innovation event, scheduled Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas.

To learn more about the Ford C-MAX, stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to take one for a test drive.

Source: Ford

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Charging Station Etiquette

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Chances are pretty good that charging stations soon are going to be part of your life in one way, shape or form (if they aren’t already). Whether you depend on them for fuel to get from point A to point B or you’re simply curious about those odd-looking devices near the best parking spots in the lot, you’re going to see even more charging stations as companies such as Ford continue to increase their electrified offerings. Ford is launching five new electrified vehicles in 2012, including the all-new Fusion Hybrid. In late July, there were about 9,400 public charging stations in the U.S., located at fast food restaurants and coffee shops to the most cutting-edge businesses and universities.

But the one thing missing has been a proper guide to vehicle charging station etiquette – until now. Ford has prepared a short video on the basics of charging station etiquette, a reference guide to keep handy for dealing with plugged-in vehicles and a placard you can put to use right away as you charge ahead in your efforts to make the world a greener, less-meaner place.

Source: Ford

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Ford C-MAX Energi Delivers Industry’s Top Electric-Only Speed Among Plug-In Hybrids

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At the touch of a button, Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid drivers can enjoy the industry’s top electric-only speed among all plug-in hybrid vehicles – 85 mph.

Topping the Toyota Prius plug-in’s top EV-only speed by more than 20 mph, the all-new, five-passenger Ford C-MAX Energi can easily keep pace with the flow of traffic, even when the EV mode button is engaged and the gasoline engine is off.

“We understand customers place a high value on the zero-emission electrified driving experience,” said Ford Vice President of Powertrain Engineering Joe Bakaj. “This inspired our engineering team to equip the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid with a button that enables drivers to choose an electric-only driving mode.”

With a fully charged battery, C-MAX Energi is rated at 195 horsepower, versus 188 horsepower for Toyota Prius.

C-MAX Energi’s EV mode range is 20-plus miles – more than triple Toyota’s plug-in and well within the one-way commute range of many American motorists. C-MAX Energi – Ford’s first plug-in hybrid – also tops Prius plug-in in overall range (550 miles versus 540 miles).

Source: Ford