Ford Needs Govt Help to Build Plug-In Hybrids
Ford Motor Co’s North American President said on Wednesday that the creation of a plug-in hybrid would rely on U.S. government assistance.
"While the basic architecture is similar to our current hybrid electric vehicles, there are engineering challenges," Mark Fields told a hybrid electric vehicle conference sponsored by the Brookings Institute think tank and Google.org.
A substantial investment from the U.S. government would be necessary to continue with the development of plug-in hybrids. Congress would need to allocate money already approved for research programs dedicated to developing powerful, reliable and affordable batteries, the crucial energy component, Fields said.
"Japan, China, Korea, and India are significantly funding the research development and deployment of plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies. This is a race we must win," Fields said.
Fields also called for the government to endorse tax credits and provide new tools and equipment to U.S. factories as incentives to build plug-ins.
Domestic automakers have also trailed Japanese rivals, such as Toyota Motor Corp, in producing mass market hybrids.
Ford has joined with Southern California Edison and the Electric Power Research Institute to build 20 plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicles on a demonstration basis.
Its Escape SUV delivered to the U.S. Energy Department on Wednesday operates on electricity and gasoline or E85. It can run up to 30 miles at speeds under 40 miles per hour on electric power only. At higher speeds or when that battery is depleted, the vehicle switches to traditional hybrid technology. This involves another battery for use at low speeds and a flex-fuel engine for highway travel.
Flex fuel engines run on gasoline or biofuels, like ethanol or ethanol blends.
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