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• Ford Wants US Assistance on Hybrids
  Srikant Rajan 11:22:54 am on June 16, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Department Of Energy, ford, gm, Hybrid, nissan, toyota

  Ford Motors  is still struggling to get its hybrid car out in the market.It has recently called for direct intervention of of the US government to help boost market for plug in electric vehicles.Mark Fields, head of Ford’s Americas business, says that government should be a “key partner in promoting American manufacturing” of plug-in cars and the lithium-ion batteries that power them through tax incentives, research subsidies and other measures".

  Ford does seem to be making some headway in its hybrid technology,it has recently begin road testing of its Escape model and also entered in an agreement for testing of other hybrid models with the US DOE and Southern California Edison.However unlike car makers like GM,Toyota and Nissan  who plan to have hybrids on road by 2010 ,Ford Motors is yet to finalize a date for commercial launch of its hybrid variants.

   

• US Department Of Energy Grants $30 Million to Hybrid Cars
  Srikant Rajan 04:19:11 am on June 13, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Department Of Energy, electric vehicles, ford, GE, General Electric, general motors, gm, Hybrid, lithium ion

  US Department Of Energy has announced $30 million in funding for development of electric vehicles.This amount would be split in three ways by GM ,Ford,and General Electric(GE).Under his agreement for research GM plans to focus on lithium -ion batteries and battery recharging technology for Electric Cars.Ford will focus on identifying bottlenecks in commercialization of plug in hybrid electric vehicles and GE would work towards dual battery energy storage system and its integration with the EV.Of the three Ford,seems to be making some headway in Plug-in hybrid vehicles with its recent Escape model.

  DOE also plans to a second round of research applications under its PHEV Technology Acceleration and Deployment Activity plan, in July 2008. Considering Toyotas recent decision to build up its battery capacity, this latest effort by the DOE signifies that US is still struggling to get the right  electric vehicle plan. Additionally since conclusive  results are  expected by 2014-2016,makes on wonder is this effort is worthwhile.