EV Could Make Up 1/4 Of Ford Sales By 2020

Once buried and left for dead, the electric vehicle (EV) has been gaining ground at a slow, yet steady pace in the automotive market. With a growing middle class globally, and climate change concerns is helping to revitalize EVs in recent years.

Now Ford?s new Chief Operating officer?suggests EVs could make up one-quarter of their sales by the end of this decade.

Image Credit: C-Max Energi via WikiCommons (Public Domain)

In an interview with Green Autoblog last week, Ford Chief Operating officer Mark Fields said Ford?s fleet of electric vehicles (battery, electric, plug-in and hybrids) could make up 10-25% of their sales by 2020.

Fields also said to help reach that goal will involve ?electrifying?platforms? as compared to electrifying single vehicles.

?And our manufacturing strategy will allow us to flex. For example, our Wayne [MI] Plant will produce the regular gas-powered Focus, the electric Focus and the C-Max hybrid,? he said.

With fuel CAFE standards coming into focus, Fields believes the companies base of electric vehicles will help reach CAFE targets. However, he also suggests firm consumer interest is vital in?reaching fuel economy targets.

Currently, Ford has the EV Ford Focus, C-Max hybrid, and C-Max Energi on the green car/EV market. However, they are now behind other well-known electric cars in EV sales, including the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. In February, there were 1,626 Volts sold, an increase of more than 59% from the previous year, while the Nissan Leaf sold 653 Leafs, a 37% increase from the previous year.

Ford sold 119 Fusion Energi vehicles in February, while 158 Ford Focus Electric units and 175 C-Max Energis left car dealer?s lots.

While Ford?s number may be small for its EV and hybrid sales, it was the first month for the Fusion Energi on sale to the public, so there is lots of time for the Detroit manufacturer to boost its EV sales well ahead of their ambitious 2020 target.

Source: http://feeds.importantmedia.org/~r/IM-cleantechnica/~3/NZdSzs5yuy4/

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