Ford creates a Center of Excellence for Electric Vehicles

Ford engineers in Dearborn will design the lithium ion batteries packs while engineers in Livonia, Michigan, will design electric-drive transaxles for the next-generation hybrids, based on Ford’s global C- and CD-car platforms.

Ford’s Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, will assemble the battery packs beginning in 2012, moving work to Michigan that is currently performed in Mexico by a supplier. Ford’s Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, will build the electric drive transaxles beginning in 2012 from a supplier facility in Japan. Ford is adding a combined 170 jobs at the Rawsonville and Van Dyke facilities to build these key components.

“Electric cars are a key part of our plan to offer a full lineup of green vehicles, and we are building a center of excellence in the U.S., here in Michigan, to keep Ford on the cutting edge,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s President of The Americas. “Today’s announcement is another important step in our larger strategy to launch a family of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles around the world.”

Ford’s creation of a center of excellence for vehicle electrification in Michigan now includes the design and manufacture of electrified key components as well as total vehicle manufacturing for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles. Ford is adding more than 50 engineers to work on electrification as we bring these technologies in-house.

By physically bringing research, engineering and manufacturing closer together, Ford, its suppliers, universities and related industries can drive both innovation and job growth in this evolving form of transportation.

Ford’s Global Electric vehicles plan

Ford’s electrification strategy involves three types of electrified vehicles – hybrid electric, all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric – to provide consumers with significant fuel economy improvements and reduced CO2 emissions without compromising the driving experience

Ford’s electrification strategy will deliver a suite of electrified vehicles to market by 2012, including:

* Ford Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2011
* Ford Focus Electric passenger car in 2012
* Two next-generation hybrid-electric vehicles in 2013
* Plug-in hybrid in 2013

The electrification strategy builds on the Ford vision of bringing affordable fuel-efficient technology to millions. This strategy will deliver a suite of electrified vehicles to a variety of markets and build on the company’s overall vision of offering the widest possible range of technology solutions – instead of a single vehicle or technology – to improve fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions for customers around the world.

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