Ford Planning Long Range Electric Car To Compete With Tesla And Chevrolet

Just a few days ago, we reported on how Ford Motor Company is content with electric cars that have only 100 miles of range.  Kevin Layden, Ford’s director of electrification programs and engineering, told the SAE World Convention in Detroit earlier this month his company has no plans to join the electric car range race. Perhaps he should have checked with the boss first.

During a conference call with investors on Thursday, Mark Fields, Ford’s CEO, said his company positively, absolutely will build an electric car with at least 200 miles of range. “We want to make sure that we’re either among the leaders or in a leadership position,” he said. “When you look at some of the competitors and what they’ve announced, clearly, that’s something we’re developing for.”

Fields offered no specifics, however. Any claim that it is leading the field is ludicrous on its face. At best, Ford is more than a lap behind Chevrolet and about 2 laps behind Tesla. Fields may be trying to put a brave face on things, but the fact it that Ford is nothing more than a “me, too” company when it comes to electric cars.

Ford is planning to introduce an assortment of plug-in hybrid models in the near future, however. One of those may be called the Model E, a small car the company plans to build at a new factory in Mexico. According to reports, the Model E will be capable of being powered by multiple power trains depending on market demands. Hyundai is pursuing a similar strategy with its new Ioniq.

The problem Ford has is the same all legacy automakers have. They are making money hand over fist selling large SUV’s and trucks. The reason Fields was chatting with analysts yesterday was to share with them the good news. Ford had the highest first quarter net income in the company’s history, thanks to strong sales of its F series pickups and Explorer SUVs.

In an era of ridiculously low gas prices, consumers are voting with their wallets and buying the biggest, thirstiest vehicles they can find and in record numbers. How is Ford supposed to say “No, thank you,” to those customers and focus on small sedans that nobody wants? Tis a conundrum. For now, Ford and others can be expected to pay lip service to the idea of electric cars, but continue to build what sells. No responsible capitalist would do it any different.

If Ford is planning on being an electric car leader, it is keeping its plans well hidden and out of public view.

Source: Bloomberg  Photo credit: Ford

Ford Model E May Be Built In Mexico

Ford is gearing up to build its Model E at a new factory in Mexico, according to reports. Ford claimed the Model E name back in 2013, which caused Tesla’s Elon Musk a great deal of emotional distress. Musk has long thought the entire Tesla model line up would consist of cars named S, E, X, and Y. He was mightily annoyed when he found out Ford had the rights to Model E, accusing Ford of trying to “kill sex.” Tesla has every opportunity to claim the name for itself but failed to act quickly enough.

Ford C Max Hybrid. Photo credit: Digital Trends

Not much is known about the new Ford car except that it will be built on an all new chassis designed from the ground up to be powered by a battery and an electric motor. Industry sources claim it will also accommodate hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. If so, it will be the second company to offer a full range of alternative fuel vehicles built on a common chassis. The new Hyundai Ioniq was the first. Reportedly, Honda plans to offer a battery electric and a plug-in hybrid car based on the same chassis as its fuel cell powered Clarity.

It is important for manufacturers to make the platform they build their cars on as adaptable as possible. Not only does that lower development costs, it also allows the factory to adapt quickly to changes in the marketplace. If customers want more plug-ins or battery cars, the production mix can be altered quickly to meet demand. Ford does have a few hybrid and  plug-in hybrid models, but they are now almost 8 years old and overdue for a refresh. It may be cheaper for Ford to build one chassis for many cars rather than re-engineer its existing alternative fuel models.

The new Ford plant in Mexico was the focus of controversy last week. Presidential candidate Donald Trump assailed the plan as slap in the face to American workers. “This transaction is an absolute disgrace. Our dishonest politicians and the special interests that control them are laughing in the face of all American citizens. When I am president, we will strongly enforce trade rules against unfair foreign subsidies, and impose countervailing duties to prevent egregious instances of outsourcing.” Trump apparently feels he will not be bound by annoying details like international treaties.

According to Digital Trends, the new factory will have a capacity of 300,000 cars annually. At present, Ford thinks about 50,000 of them will be Model E’s. It will shift production of the Focus to the Mexican plant when it begins production in 2019. The Model E is billed as a “Prius fighter,” although with Prius sales falling dramatically in this time of low gas prices, Ford may be a little late getting into the hybrid game.

Tesla, Ford Compete For The “Model E” Trademark

Last year Elon Musk and Tesla Motors caused a flutter when it was revealed that the Fremont-based automaker had filed a trademark for the “Model E” moniker. While supposedly a joke (Model S + Model E + Model X = SEX), the Internet and Ford Motors have taken the trademark filing very seriously, with the Blue Oval filing for its own Model E trademark.

Rumor has suggested that the Model E name could be applied to the $35,000, 200-mile BMW fighter Tesla will begin selling in 2016 or 2017. Though Tesla has not confirmed anything regarding the Model E, including the name, the trademark has given auto bloggers around the world enough to speculate pretty much endlessly. Everything you think you know about the Tesla Model E is merely wishful thinking and speculation at this point.

But speculation is apparently enough to get Ford’s trademark attorneys all riled up, with Ford patent hawks submitting a trademark application for the Model E moniker as well. Despite what the Internet is telling you though, Ford DID make a “Model F” way back at the dawn of the automotive era, which many reffered to as the Model E. While official Ford archives call the Model E merely the “Delivery Car” model, Ford has not made or sold a Model E in more than a century, though one could make an argument for the E-Series of Ford delivery vans. That begs the question, to whom, if anyone, does the Model E name belong now?

Tesla filed first, but if Ford can prove it has a historical claim to the Model E name, this could turn into an ugly legal battle over a very bland name. Of course Ford could avoid this scuffle altogether by simply buying Tesla Motors out, though there is an increasingly long line of potential bidders for the biggest car brand of 2013. Then again, Ford has quite enough on its plate right now with the re-launch of Lincoln and the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang.

Now watch as neither company ever use the Model E moniker…

Source: Ford Authority