Ford is not working on a plug-in Escort for 2010
We reported yesterday on a story that turned up about Ford working on a new dedicated plug-in hybrid referred to as a new Escort. We decided to check with Ford to see if there was anything to this story, and spokesman Said Deep let us know that story is untrue. Where did the rumor come from? Earlier this summer Ford announced a joint test program with Southern California Edison to evaluate a fleet of plug-in hybrid Escapes. In fact Ford has had a small internal test fleet of plug-in Escapes since late 2006. Ford is also continuing development work on the HySeries drive platform that was shown in a Ford Edge last January. The HySeries Edge has been under continual test and evaluation since it was completed last November and a lighter-weight version is currently being worked on. However, no dedicated compact plug-in hybrid is currently planned for the 2010 time-frame.
The other problem with yesterday's rumor is that GM has a development deal with A123 that gives them some exclusivity to intellectual property developed by the two companies for automotive use, which could limit Ford's ability to use these batteries.
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon 8:48AM (9/25/2007)
Disappointing...
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jcwinnie 8:57AM (9/25/2007)
I had thought at the time that it seemed odd that Ford could wangle a deal with A123, which has a contract with GM and is partnered with Cobasys.
Cobasys kept tight control over the NiMH batteries that went into the GM EV1 (see WKTEC).
Still the USABC explanation seemed plausible, so I relayed the news.
At the time the other illogical thing was Toyota giving Ford the knife to kill the Prius. Explanation: the Ford Escape Hybrid uses the Hybrid Synergy Drive under license from Toyota. Still, Ford has been showing a fuel cell prototype, so one would assume that they have an electric drive that could work in a plug-in hybrid.
It was a disappointment to see the retraction.
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Scott 9:25AM (9/25/2007)
I am disappointed that there will be no Escort plug-in, but happy that the story could be retracted soon. Good journalism. I hope Ford's real hybrid plans succeed.
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Dave B 9:29AM (9/25/2007)
Too bad...that could have been a real winner.
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detroit9000 10:50AM (9/25/2007)
Are you going to fire Dan Rather?
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Benjamin Friou 11:13AM (9/25/2007)
it was too good to be true
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Rob 11:16AM (9/25/2007)
Hopefully it will get Ford thinking. Thanks for checking the source.
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mike 11:03PM (9/25/2007)
Shouldn't Volvo's plans be Ford's as well?
Even so, Volvo will be Very Late to the Party, if ever.
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dean 10:55AM (9/26/2007)
Yeah thats too bad. Still, that Ford pictured looks nice, too bad its not available here.
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