Ford says Fusion hybrid batteries will be available if needed
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
We found a story yesterday that seemed to indicate that Ford might not be able to get enough NiMH batteries for its Fusion (and Milan) hybrids. We asked Ford if they had anything to add to the story and this is what a spokesman said
"We have planned to double our volume with the addition of our new hybrids, the Fusion and Milan, joining the Escape and Mariner. If customer demand requires more, we will work with our supplier partners to meet the demand."
So, not quite the "We're offering a good-mileage mid-sized car in America, and WE CAN'T BUILD THEM FAST ENOUGH!" that a reader recommended, but a much more solid answer to the question of whether or not Ford's spring 2009 entry has enough power to help keep the Blue Oval in the black next year.
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 11:05AM (12/31/2008)
Don't forget that all these new batteries technologies and commercialisation and hype are just driven by u.s.a politic subsidies to keep petrol securly in place. Ford cannot trust these 'new' players because just researchs are subsidize and production and commercialisation are prohibited, LOL. The best way to put all the auto-manufacturers in the sink and buy them thereafter with taxmoney. After they bought them they gonna push tax, ethanol from food, limp batteries, unemployment , special state measures of all sort and air and water pollution will take care of makintg us die along with the richs that will live a couple more weeks in zone 51, underground watching film of dying peoples in the streets.
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Sasparilla 2:52PM (12/31/2008)
Ford has planned to make 25,000 Fusion Hybrid's this next year - which is the same number of Escape Hybrids they make as well...this how they "double" hybrid production. Should be far below demand....but until gas gets back up in the stratosphere and customers start burning Ford dealerships, it'll have to do.
To keep things in perspective, Toyota had planned on upping Prius production by 150,000 this next year to 450,000. Honda had planned on adding 200,000 new Insights this next year (its a new hybrid).
I'm sure these numbers will get scaled back some, but it gives you a feel for what a drop in the bucket, Ford's hybrid plans really are - which is sad, they could sell a hell of alot more of them if they would just make them.
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Danny 10:07AM (1/02/2009)
Prius sales are down 60% relative to last year, so I doubt Toyota will be increasing production by 50%. I'm guess Ford is more interested in getting the model out there for bragging rights and ironing out the kinks. If gas prices spike again, then they can scale up production, but they aren't going to make money on their hybrid program any time soon.
ziv 8:34PM (12/31/2008)
I am pretty impressed with Ford's hybrids, but 25,000 per year is not nearly enough. And once the new Insight shows up buyers will expect a hybrid to cost a lot less. Admittedly, it looks like the Fusion Hybrid will kick the Insight to the curb, on mileage and size, but the Insight is going to cost a lot less.
It will be interesting to see how a midsized, reasonably performing car that gets 41 mpg city for $27k+ will do against a car that is now midsized but gets a rep for being a bit smaller and slower, priced around $24k.
More choices are better.
The difference between 15 mpg and 30 mpg is huge. For most of us that drive 12,000 miles a year, improving from 15 mpg to 30 mpg saves 400 gallons a year, taking us from 800 gallons to 400. Going from 25 mpg to 50 mpg is great, but it saves just 240 gallons, going from 480 gallons to 240. Once you get 50+ miles per gallon, the cost of gas just doesn't matter much, because you use so little of it, as long as paying for your car isn't so expensive that it eats up the future savings.
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ziv 10:06AM (1/01/2009)
Hmmm... The Fusion will get slightly better mileage and will be a lot roomier than the Insight. My bad experience with my Accord is coloring my outlook.
And that second paragraph regarding a midsized car with a rep as being smaller, slower and priced at $24k base is referring to the Prius, not the Insight. Sorry I wasn't clearer. Having ridden in a Prius, it is bigger inside than it looks, but it still doesn't seem to be as big as a Fusion. The Fusion has a wheelbase that is a foot longer, but the Prius compares fairly well. That having been said, I have a feeling that Ford will have a waiting list for the Fusion Hybrid, just as they do for the Escape Hybrid, which I tried to buy two years ago.
gorr 8:35PM (1/01/2009)
Forget about hybrids with batteries. Manufacturers realized that
it cost a lot, that's it's inneficient, that battery suppliers are new and subsidized and cannot be trusted and that consumers are expecting a better thing then that. They are forced to adopt that because it will push them toward bankrupcy. They have nightmare problems with e.p.a and europeen union concerning consumption. They have nightmare problems with world banking and regulations and these politicians paid by big oil are trying to rule the operations and products of manufacturers. So they protest a little bit and are retarding this foolish technology.
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