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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><itunes:author>Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan Roth</itunes:author><itunes:image href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/autoblog-podcast-itunes.jpg" /><itunes:summary>The podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.</itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Games and Hobbies"><itunes:category text="Automotive" /></itunes:category><item><title><![CDATA[Pricing added to 2013 Ford Fusion configurator, "Luxury Package" costs more on hybrid]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/pricing-added-to-2013-ford-fusion-configurator-luxury-package/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/pricing-added-to-2013-ford-fusion-configurator-luxury-package/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/pricing-added-to-2013-ford-fusion-configurator-luxury-package/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-ford-fusion-1/"><img alt="2013 Ford Fusion" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/30-2013-ford-fusion-opt.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 407px;" /></a><br />
<br />
We've noticed that 2013 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/fusion/">Ford Fusion</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/2013-ford-fusion-configurator-powers-up/">configurator</a> has been updated with dollar values for each of its four models, however, we're not so sure the pricing is that black-and-white. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/">Ford</a> has also updated the disclaimer at the bottom of the page, to read, "Prices and features are for survey purposes only and are subject to change and features may become unavailable at the time of vehicle introduction." In other words, don't get too fixated on the numbers, as they're not locked down yet. And by playing with the configurator, you're likely serving as a FoMoCo lab rat - after all, this is the company that never met a focus group it didn't like.<br />
<br />
It's worth noting that Ford has not issued an official press release on pricing yet. But for now, it seems like the base Fusion S will start at $22,495, though we're not sure whether that includes destination or not. Stepping up to the SE at $24,490 will upgrade the steel wheels to alloys, add heated, lighted mirrors with turn signal indicators, and get you body color rocker panels. Inside, the SE has a power driver's seat and a better stereo, and backseat passengers get an armrest and their own HVAC ducts. The SE also allows you to order other stuff, including navigation and start/stop, or opt for a different engine than the base-spec 2.5-liter four-cylinder with automatic transmission.<br />
<br />
The 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder is available with a manual or automatic on the SE for $25,290, while the start/stop-equipped version (automatic only) is $25,585. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost with automatic is $26,745 when ordered in SE trim. Ford lists a number of different packages and options, but they seem to be offered on a sliding scale, such that the packages are more expensive on the lower-priced models. For instance, the Luxury Package with leather and heated seats, among other equipment, is $1,505 on the 1.6-liter EcoBoost but only $1,050 on the 2.0-liter EcoBoost.<br />
<br />
On the SE Hybrid, which starts at $27,995 and is equipped with a non-EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a CVT, the same Luxury Package is listed at $2,000. Apparently if you're saving all that money on gas, you can afford to pay double the guy with the most powerful engine.<br />
<br />
At the top of the Fusion price list, of course, rests the Titanium, which offers a lot of the optional stuff standard for $30,995. It's also the only way to get all-wheel drive, which will set you back $32,995. Note that the Titanium is exclusively powered by the 2.0-liter EcoBoost and is not available with a manual, so you won't be configuring your Fusion as a dual-use weekend rally car.<br />
<br />
But then again, Ford will likely change this all tomorrow.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/pricing-added-to-2013-ford-fusion-configurator-luxury-package/">Pricing added to 2013 Ford Fusion configurator, "Luxury Package" costs more on hybrid</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 22 May 2012 16:08:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/pricing-added-to-2013-ford-fusion-configurator-luxury-package/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20242962/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/pricing-added-to-2013-ford-fusion-configurator-luxury-package/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2013 ford fusion</category><category>2013 ford fusion hybrid</category><category>ford</category><category>fusion</category><category>fusion hybrid</category><category>fusion pricing</category><category>pricing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeff Sabatini]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 16:08:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[First Ford Focus Electric models en route to dealerships]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/first-ford-focus-electric-models-en-route-to-dealerships/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/first-ford-focus-electric-models-en-route-to-dealerships/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/first-ford-focus-electric-models-en-route-to-dealerships/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin"><img height="410" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/03-2012-ford-focus-electric-fd.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">2012 Ford Focus Electric</a> is officially on its way to dealerships. Outlets in California, New Jersey, and New York - 67 in all - are going to be the first to receive the electron-fueled Focus, with about six cars each winding up on lots. To help dealers build more excitement for what's likely to be a slow-starting sales story, the dealers will hold one of the Focus EVs as a demonstrator.<br />
<br />
Even if fewer than 5,000 Focus Electric models find buyers this year, Alan Mulally won't be disappointed. While Ford ultimately expects electrics and hybrid vehicles to account for up to 25 percent of its sales volume by 2020, the company is moving deliberately. Rather than develop and tool an entirely new platform, Ford's move to modify the Focus for electric propulsion is said to allow some semblance of a profit margin, but it's going to take time for consumers to warm to the idea of a $40,000 Focus, even if a third of that price is the battery, and Ford appears to be keeping this in mind.<br />
<br />
After the initial 350 or so cars are delivered to the pilot stores, the rest of the Ford dealers across the nation will start getting the Focus EV before spring turns into summer.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/first-ford-focus-electric-models-en-route-to-dealerships/">First Ford Focus Electric models en route to dealerships</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 22 May 2012 10:17:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/first-ford-focus-electric-models-en-route-to-dealerships/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20242563/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/first-ford-focus-electric-models-en-route-to-dealerships/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 ford focus electric</category><category>focus</category><category>focus electric</category><category>ford</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 10:17:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford now taking orders for C-Max Hybrid at $25,995]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid/"><img alt="2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/2013-ford-focus-c-max-hybrid.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 451px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/"><br />
Ford</a> is putting a big "X" on the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/prius+v/">Prius V</a>.<br />
<br />
The U.S. automaker said its dealers began taking orders for its 2013 model-year <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/c-max">C-Max Hybrid </a>and is pitching the model as a cheaper, more fuel-efficient alternative to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/prius+v/">Toyota Prius V </a>wagon.<br />
<br />
Ford will start deliveries of the C-Max Hybrid this fall, while a plug-in hybrid version - the <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/c-max energi">C-Max Energi</a> - will be available by year-end. Ford's pricing the C-Max Hybrid at a base of $25,995, or about $500 less than the cheapest Prius V. While Ford didn't specifically give a miles-per-gallon estimate, the company said the C-Max Hybrid would beat the Prius V's 42-mile-per-gallon-combined rating from the EPA.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/prius-plug-in-helps-toyota-extend-lead-for-aprils-alt-fuel-sale/">Last month</a>, Toyota boosted U.S. Prius sales doubled from a year earlier to 25,168 units in part because of the 3,847 Prius V wagons sold.<br />
<br />
Ford, which sold just 1,175 hybrids in April, late last month <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/">tapped the first 67 West Coast and New York-area dealers</a> that will sell the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">Ford Focus Electric</a> and published a map indicating where the EV would be rolled out during the rest of the year.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford now taking orders for C-Max Hybrid at $25,995</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/">Ford now taking orders for C-Max Hybrid at $25,995</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 17 May 2012 13:56:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20240076/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/ford-now-taking-orders-for-c-max-hybrid-at-25-995/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>c-max</category><category>c-max energi</category><category>c-max hybrid</category><category>ford</category><category>hybrid</category><category>prius</category><category>prius v</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota prius v</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 13:56:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a></p><a href="/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/#continued"><img alt="ALTe Ford F-150" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/alte-ford-f-150.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 628px; height: 362px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a><br />
<br />
The crew at <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/translogic">Translogic</a> took the time to stop by and see the the team at ALTe Powertrain Technologies. Founded by a group of former <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/tesla motors">Tesla Motors</a> executives, the company focuses on building <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/plug-in hybrid">plug-in hybrid</a> conversions for fleet vehicles. From creations like a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/f-150">Ford F-150</a> with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and two 60 kW electric motors to full-size delivery trucks, buses and vans, the company is focused on reducing fuel consumption on some of the largest and hardest-working machinery out there. ALTe says the F-150 conversion supplies up to 465 pound-feet of torque, which is more than the old 4.6-liter V8.<br />
<br />
Most of the truck conversions come with 22 kWh lithium-ion battery packs, yielding 25-40 miles of all-electric range. From there, the four-cylinder kicks in to keep the batteries charged and the motors spinning.<br />
<br />
ALTe says the company has focused on Ford conversions first, since the F-Series is the best-selling pickup in the country. While <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/e-series">E-Series</a> and Panther-based creations are also on the docket, ALTe is also focusing on partnering with OEMs in China. <a href="/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/#continued">Scroll down below</a> to check out the video for yourself.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/">Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20239341/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/translogic-examines-the-power-of-plug-in-hybrids-for-commercial/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alte</category><category>alte powertrain technologies</category><category>ev conversion</category><category>f-150</category><category>ford</category><category>ford f-150</category><category>hybrid</category><category>plug-in</category><category>plug-in hybrid</category><category>translogic</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Bowman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 17:57:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Consumer Reports says converted EVs are marred by design compromises]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/consumer-reports-says-converted-evs-are-marred-by-design-comprom/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/consumer-reports-says-converted-evs-are-marred-by-design-comprom/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/consumer-reports-says-converted-evs-are-marred-by-design-comprom/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/tesla-motors/" rel="tag">Tesla Motors</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin/" target="_blank"><img class="post_top_img" height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-2012-ford-focus-electric-fd-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
When it comes to battery-electric versions of existing gas-powered vehicles, it's tough for those leopards to change their spots.<br />
<br />
That's a conclusion from Consumer Reports, which says that the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">Ford Focus Electric</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/volt/">Chevrolet Volt</a> are among plug-in vehicles marred by design compromises because they used platforms from existing gas-powered models.<br />
<br />
The Volt, whose architecture stems from the Chevrolet Cruze, and the Focus EV both lack interior room and trunk space because the cars' larger batteries were crammed into spaces not originally designed to accommodate them, according to the publication. In contrast, models like the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/leaf/">Nissan Leaf</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tesla/model+s/">Tesla Model S</a>, which were always designed for electric powertrains, keep most if not all of their batteries underneath the car's flooring, increasing roominess as well as improving handling. Consumer Reports noted the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Fuel Cell vehicle as an exception because most of its powertrain components are also in the floor.<br />
<br />
The topic of converted electric-drive vehicles vs. those that had always been designed as EVs is topical as many automakers rush EVs to the market to capitalize on growing awareness of electric-drive vehicles.<br />
<br />
Earlier this month, Green Car Reports broached the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/these-electric-vehicles-arent-really-real-just-california-com/">topic of converted vs. purpose built EVs</a> in an article about which EVs are being made for true production and which are being produced merely to comply with California's quota for zero-emissions vehicles. Green Car Reports concluded that converted models such as electric versions of the Focus, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/fit/">Honda Fit</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/rav4/">Toyota RAV4</a> are being made merely for compliance purposes.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/consumer-reports-says-converted-evs-are-marred-by-design-comprom/">Consumer Reports says converted EVs are marred by design compromises</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 11 May 2012 20:05:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/consumer-reports-says-converted-evs-are-marred-by-design-comprom/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20235945/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/consumer-reports-says-converted-evs-are-marred-by-design-comprom/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>chevrolet</category><category>consumer reports</category><category>converted</category><category>design</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>ford focus electric</category><category>nissan leaf</category><category>purpose built</category><category>tesla model s</category><category>volt</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 20:05:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford ready to triple EcoBoost engine production in Europe]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/ford-ready-to-triple-ecoboost-engine-production-in-europe/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/ford-ready-to-triple-ecoboost-engine-production-in-europe/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/ford-ready-to-triple-ecoboost-engine-production-in-europe/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/manufacturing-plants/" rel="tag">Manufacturing/Plants</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/european-union/" rel="tag">Europe/EU</a></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/ford-ecoboost-future-demand/full/"><img alt="Ford EcoBoost future demand" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ecoboostfuturedemand.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 378px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> keeps boldly moving forward with the old standby: gasoline. Just a little less of it.<br />
<br />
Today, Ford announced it will increase production of <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/tag/ecoboost">EcoBoost</a>-powered vehicles in Europe three-fold in the coming years. In 2011, Ford made 141,000 EcoBoost engines and this number will jump to 480,000 in 2015. To meet expected demand for greener vehicles, Ford started making the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine production in Craiova, Romania today. That's the engine that will make up the bulk of the EcoBoost vehicles: roughly 800,000 of the 1.3 million units Ford will build for Eurpoe between 2012 and 2015. In Europe, the number of Ford models that will have EcoBoost will go from five to ten by 2015.<br />
<br />
EcoBoost is Ford's first step in greening up its fleet, as you can read all about <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/17/future-fuel-economy-mandates-part-ii-ford/">here</a>. The gist of the strategy is to start by improving ICE vehicles while slowly adding in hybrid and electrified components until something between 10 and 25 percent of Ford's global volume is electrified some time after 2020. In the meantime, the EcoBoost engines burn less fuel than most regular ICEs by using turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/ford-ready-to-triple-ecoboost-engine-production-in-europe/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford ready to triple EcoBoost engine production in Europe</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/ford-ready-to-triple-ecoboost-engine-production-in-europe/">Ford ready to triple EcoBoost engine production in Europe</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:01:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/ford-ready-to-triple-ecoboost-engine-production-in-europe/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20234951/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/ford-ready-to-triple-ecoboost-engine-production-in-europe/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>1.0-liter ecoboost</category><category>ecoboost</category><category>ecoboost europe</category><category>ford ecoboost</category><category>mpg</category><category>romania</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 18:01:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[U.S., German automakers will demo fast-charging system at EVS26]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/u-s-german-automakers-will-demo-fast-charging-system-at-evs26/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/u-s-german-automakers-will-demo-fast-charging-system-at-evs26/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/u-s-german-automakers-will-demo-fast-charging-system-at-evs26/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/emerging-technologies/" rel="tag">Emerging Technologies</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/manufacturing-plants/" rel="tag">Manufacturing/Plants</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/porsche/" rel="tag">Porsche</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/evs23/" rel="tag">EVS</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/daimler/" rel="tag">Daimler</a></p><img height="471" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/dccombined.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /><br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/"><br />
BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/generalmotors/">General Motors</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/">Volkswagen</a> are among the eight U.S. and German automakers that will demonstrate a single-port fast-charging system for electric vehicles at the Electric Vehicle Symposium 26 (EV26) in Los Angeles starting next week.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/audi/">Audi</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chrysler/">Chrysler</a>, Mercedes-Benz parent <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/daimler/">Daimler</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche/">Porsche</a> will also show off the so-called DC-fast system, which will be able to recharge most battery-electric vehicles in as little as 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
With a combination AC and DC charging capabilities, the DC-fast system is supposed to start sales by the end of the year and will enable U.S. and German plug-ins to be able to be recharged at most public charging stations while also accommodating high-powered fast-charging stations. The International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has officially tapped the system as the standard for fast-charging.<br />
<br />
Electric-vehicle proponents consider the establishment of a fast-charging standard to be an important key to plug-in vehicle adoption because the availability of publicly accessible fast chargers that can recharge a vehicle in minutes instead of hours makes range anxiety a moot point. Pike Research said last year that annual revenue generated by makers of electric-vehicle charging equipment will increase more than tenfold between 2011 and 2017 to about $4.3 billion.<br />
<br />
Still, the fast-charging issue is far from settled because a separate fast-charging standard - <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/tag/chademo/">CHAdeMO</a> - has been proposed by the Japanese automotive industry. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mitsubishi">Mitsubishi</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/subaru/">Subaru</a> parent Fuji Heavy Industries are all partners in the CHAdeMO Association.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/u-s-german-automakers-will-demo-fast-charging-system-at-evs26/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>U.S., German automakers will demo fast-charging system at EVS26</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/u-s-german-automakers-will-demo-fast-charging-system-at-evs26/">U.S., German automakers will demo fast-charging system at EVS26</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 04 May 2012 09:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/u-s-german-automakers-will-demo-fast-charging-system-at-evs26/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20230451/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/u-s-german-automakers-will-demo-fast-charging-system-at-evs26/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>audi</category><category>bmw</category><category>chademo</category><category>charging stations</category><category>chrysler</category><category>daimler</category><category>dc-fast</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>ford</category><category>gm</category><category>porsche</category><category>volkswagen</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 09:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford taps its first 67 dealers for Focus Electric sales]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/ford-focus-electric-rollout-map/full/"><img alt="ford focus electric dealer map" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/fordfocuslaunch.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 484px;" /></a><br />
<br />
And then there were 67...<br />
<br />
Ford on Monday said it tapped its first 67 dealers to sell its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">Focus Electric</a>, the automaker's first foray into mass-produced electric-drive vehicles.<br />
<br />
Such dealers have met requirements such as completing certain electric-vehicle training courses and installing at least two on-site charging stations. Those dealers will be receiving their first Focus EVs later this spring, and, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/16/ford-focus-electric-wont-be-available-outside-of-coasts-until-s/">as expected</a>, are all in California, New York and New Jersey.<br />
<br />
Ford, which started making the Focus EV in Michigan late last year, last month said the EV would be <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/">featured in a reality-competition series called "Plugged In"</a> that will be broadcast on Yahoo! starting next month. That series, which will involve two-person teams competing in a scavenger-hunt type competition, will take place in 10 U.S. markets, and will be created by "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" producer Magic Elves.<br />
<br />
Ford also released a map laying out how the car will be rolled out nationwide during the rest of the year (see above; click to enlarge). The states that will be receiving the car this summer are Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford taps its first 67 dealers for Focus Electric sales</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/">Ford taps its first 67 dealers for Focus Electric sales</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 01 May 2012 09:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20227608/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/ford-taps-its-first-67-dealers-for-focus-electric-sales/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>california</category><category>dealer</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>focus</category><category>focus electric</category><category>focus ev</category><category>focus ev rollout</category><category>ford</category><category>new jersey</category><category>new york</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2012 09:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Will Detroit Three Survive and Thrive?]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/will-detroit-three-survive-and-thrive/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/will-detroit-three-survive-and-thrive/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/will-detroit-three-survive-and-thrive/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/at-witz-end/" rel="tag">At Witz End</a></p><em><big>All are looking good for now... but it depends</big></em><br />
<br />
<img height="418" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/first-aid-kit.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /><br />
<br />
As you probably know, <a href="http://autoblog.com/chrysler">Chrysler</a> has reported its best quarterly profits in 13 years, has just introduced a very nice new <a href="http://autoblog.com/dodge/dart">Dodge Dart</a> compact sedan and continues to gain sales and market share. GM has also been highly profitable with a string of solid product hits, though it has not gained share working with just half of its former eight U.S. brands.<br />
<br />
As you also know, both of these iconic American car companies were upside down four years ago and likely would have been dissolved - along with millions of good U.S. jobs - had both the Bush and Obama administrations not decided to invest taxpayer money in saving them.<br />
<br />
Now, with election season heating up, we'll be hearing much from both sides on the GM and Chrysler "bailouts." Democrats will rightly claim credit (though it began under Bush) for saving the U.S. auto industry and millions of jobs. Republicans will correctly counter that they did it all wrong (stiffing private investors, destroying thousands of dealer businesses for no good reason and handing Chrysler to Italy's <a href="http://autoblog.com/fiat">Fiat</a>) and for the wrong reason (to save the UAW).<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="pull-quote pull-quote-right">
	<p>
		"Let them fail," conservatives crowed then, and still. "That's how capitalism works."</p>
</blockquote>
"Let them fail," conservatives crowed then, and still. "That's how capitalism works." But there was no private capital in late 2008 for business loans or bankruptcies, so federal support was the last resort. <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> had sufficient capital to weather the crisis only because it had run out of money two years earlier, when it still could (and did) mortgage itself for working capital.<br />
<br />
There has been no end to political rhetoric about creating new jobs, but little knowledgeable discussion around saving those millions of auto (and industry-dependent) jobs that we already had. What very few outside the industry - including financial gurus and media pundits - understand is how this industry is a huge, fragile, interdependent house of cards.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/will-detroit-three-survive-and-thrive/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Will Detroit Three Survive and Thrive?</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/will-detroit-three-survive-and-thrive/">Will Detroit Three Survive and Thrive?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:14:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/will-detroit-three-survive-and-thrive/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20226847/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/will-detroit-three-survive-and-thrive/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bailout</category><category>bankruptcy</category><category>big three</category><category>chrysler</category><category>detroit three</category><category>ford</category><category>gary witzenburg</category><category>gm</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Gary Witzenburg]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:14:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2013 Ford Escape 1.6L EcoBoost officially rated at 23/33 MPG]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-ford-escape-first-drive"><img height="405" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-2013-ford-escape-fd-1335452688.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
When <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/2013-ford-escape-first-drive-review-video/">we drove</a> the all-new <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford/escape">Escape</a> recently, <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> was still awaiting official EPA certification for fuel economy. Now, though, the numbers are in, and the Blue Oval can confidently state that it offers the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the small crossover segment... with an automatic transmission, that is.<br />
<br />
The hero engine for the new Escape is Ford's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, offering up 178 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine is good for 23 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg highway, besting the highway numbers of the <a href="http://autoblog.com/chevrolet/equinox">Chevrolet Equinox</a>, <a href="http://autoblog.com/honda/cr-v">Honda CR-V</a>, <a href="http://autoblog.com/toyota/rav4">Toyota RAV4</a> and others. At 33 mpg, this means the new Escape is not only more efficient than the outgoing four-cylinder model, but it bests the numbers of the old <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/escape hybrid">Escape Hybrid</a>, too.<br />
<br />
But again, this only pertains to automatic transmission-equipped vehicles (the Escape does not offer a manual transmission with any of its powertrains). The <a href="http://autoblog.com/mazda/cx-5">2013 Mazda CX-5</a> with its 2.0-liter Skyactiv inline-four and six-speed manual 'box is rated at 35 mpg highway, but opting for the six-speed auto drops that number to 32 mpg.<br />
<br />
The other powertrains offered in the Escape are returning some pretty impressive fuel economy numbers, too. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter base engine is rated at 22/31 mpg, and the range-topping 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 240 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque is good for 22/30 mpg. <a href="/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/#continued">Scroll down</a> for the full details in Ford's press release.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2013 Ford Escape 1.6L EcoBoost officially rated at 23/33 MPG</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/">2013 Ford Escape 1.6L EcoBoost officially rated at 23/33 MPG</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:49:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20225745/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/2013-ford-escape-1-6l-ecoboost-officially-rated-at-23-33-mpg/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2013 ford escape</category><category>ecoboost</category><category>escape</category><category>ford</category><category>fuel economy</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steven J. Ewing]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:49:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford releases photos of Focus Electric NASCAR pace car]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/"><img height="405" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/focuselectric628.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
Last week, <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> announced that it would be creating the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/">world's first all-electric pace car</a> in the form of the <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric">Focus Electric</a> hatchback. Set to lap the oval at the Richmond 400 at the end of this month, the official Focus Electric <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/nascar">NASCAR</a> pace car was unveiled to the public at Richmond International Raceway today, showing off the battery-powered vehicle wrapped in its decidedly modest racing livery.<br />
<br />
We recently had our <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/">first opportunity to drive</a> Ford's all-electric Focus and find it to be a pleasant and engaging - if inconspicuous - EV. These large decals certainly help the BEV to stand out, and we're interested to see how the Focus Electric looks while its whirring along in front of some power-hungry NASCAR racers.<br />
<br />
Scroll through our high-resolution image gallery above to see a few shots of the zero-emission Focus pace car, and <a href="/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/#continued">scroll down</a> for Ford's original press release.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford releases photos of Focus Electric NASCAR pace car</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/">Ford releases photos of Focus Electric NASCAR pace car</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20224266/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/ford-releases-photos-of-focus-electric-nascar-pace-car/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 ford focus electric</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>focus</category><category>focus electric</category><category>ford</category><category>nascar</category><category>pace car</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steven J. Ewing]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 Ford Focus Electric]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a></p><em><big>The EV Incognito</big></em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin/"><img height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-2012-ford-focus-electric-fd-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
You know those "spot the difference" side-by-side photos that are commonly reserved for <em>Highlights</em> magazines in a dentist's waiting room? "Can you find seven differences between these two pictures?" Park a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">2012 Ford Focus Electric</a> next to its gasoline-powered kin and you'll essentially be playing a three-dimensional version.<br />
<br />
But that's exactly why we like this zero-emission, battery-powered compact. It doesn't have a funky name, it isn't all bubbly shaped, and it's still as functional as any new <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford/focus">Focus</a> we've sampled to date.<br />
<br />
So, does this whole package of anonymous electrification work? It looks like a Focus, but does it drive like one and offer the same refinement, too? We headed to the southern California coast to find out.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Ford Focus Electric</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/">2012 Ford Focus Electric</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20222958/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/2012-ford-focus-electric-quick-spin-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 ford focus electric</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>featured</category><category>focus</category><category>focus electric</category><category>ford</category><category>quick spin</category><category>quickspin</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steven J. Ewing]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford developing way to make car parts from cash]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/ford-may-use-old-dollar-bills-for-padding-dampening-parts/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/ford-may-use-old-dollar-bills-for-padding-dampening-parts/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/ford-may-use-old-dollar-bills-for-padding-dampening-parts/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/emerging-technologies/" rel="tag">Emerging Technologies</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><img height="381"  src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/cco0008.jpg-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /><br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/"><br />
Ford</a> is looking to put a new twist on the term "old money."<br />
<br />
The U.S. automaker may add old, shredded, out-of-circulation U.S paper currency to its list of recyclable materials that may be used for cushions, insulation and other components.<br />
<br />
With about 10,000 pounds of paper money being shredded per day, Ford is exploring adding it to a list of recyclable or reclaimed materials that includes soybeans, denim and plastic bottles.<br />
<br />
Ford has cut its petroleum use by about 5 million pounds a year by using soy-based material for foam that is installed in seat cushions and head restraints. And each <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/fusion/">Ford Fusion</a> is built with the denim-equivalent of about two pairs of blue jeans that's used for sound-dampening purposes.<br />
<br />
Ford started looking into using recycled materials about ten years ago as a way to cut use of petroleum in components that usually require plastic. At that time, oil cost about one-seventh of what it costs now.<br />
<br />
In January, the company said it would use <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/08/ford-uses-recycled-plastic-bottles-for-focus-electric-seats/">recycled plastic bottles</a> from the North American Auto Show in Detroit and the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to create part of the polyester fiber used in the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus/electric/">Ford Focus Electric</a>'s seats.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/ford-may-use-old-dollar-bills-for-padding-dampening-parts/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford developing way to make car parts from cash</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/ford-may-use-old-dollar-bills-for-padding-dampening-parts/">Ford developing way to make car parts from cash</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:49:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/ford-may-use-old-dollar-bills-for-padding-dampening-parts/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20219962/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/ford-may-use-old-dollar-bills-for-padding-dampening-parts/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>currency</category><category>dollar bills</category><category>dollars</category><category>ford</category><category>ford recycle</category><category>recyclable</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:49:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford prepared for slow Focus Electric sales; battery costs $12-15,000]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-focus-electric-sales-battery-costs-12-1/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-focus-electric-sales-battery-costs-12-1/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-focus-electric-sales-battery-costs-12-1/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ces-2011-ford-focus-electric/#photo-3756876"><img height="419" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/focuselectricsales.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
Along with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/renault/">Renault</a>-<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan">Nissan</a> CEO <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/ghosn/">Carlos Ghosn</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> CEO Alan Mulally is confident in the growth of the electric car segment. It's a long-term play, though, so Mulally isn't committing the electric <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/ford+focus+ev">Ford Focus EV</a> to making a strong sales statement. For now, Ford's chief says he'd be fine moving fewer than 5,000 Focus EVs in the model's first full year. And even that would mean a steep rise in uptake based on <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120417/AUTO01/204170368/1148/rss25">just 12 having been sold</a> in December and January.<br />
<br />
<em>The</em> <em>Wall Street Journal</em> reports that Mulally has also let slip the cost for the battery pack in the all-electric Focus: "around $12,000 to $15,000," which makes <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/2012-ford-focus-electric-priced-from-39-200/">the Focus Electric's starting cost of $39,200</a> a bit more understandable. Given that price range and the EV's 23-kWh battery, that means Ford's cost is between $522 and $650 per kWh, which is lower than the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/advanced-vehicle-battery-costs-drop-14-in-the-past-year-down-3/">estimated $689-per-kWh industry average</a> so far this year.<br />
<br />
Reportage on the current sales of EVs is a bit schizophrenic - for example, <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0414/Electric-cars-hybrids-see-record-sales">bullish here</a>, <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120417/AUTO01/204170368/1148/rss25">bearish here</a>, but the commentators and the numbers seem to support Mulally's confidence. If the Focus EV did manage 5,000 sales this year, that would be a little more than half of the 2011 tally for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/leaf">Nissan Leaf</a>, yet according to <em>Bloomberg,</em> EV market share grew more quickly than any other segment in Q1: Nissan is still working through its Leaf pre-order list, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/volt">Chevrolet Volt</a> sales <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/dalebuss/2012/04/03/re-volting-development-volt-sales-mount-spring-surge/">were up 277 percent</a> to 2,129 units vs. March 2011, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/opel+ampera">Opel Ampera</a> has exceeded sales expectations, and other electric vehicles and their marketing pushes will come online later this year. Oh, and gas prices are still climbing.<br />
<br />
There were no Focus EVs sold in February or March, but the retail push is gearing up now for the Spring season.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-focus-electric-sales-battery-costs-12-1/">Ford prepared for slow Focus Electric sales; battery costs $12-15,000</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-focus-electric-sales-battery-costs-12-1/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20219494/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-focus-electric-sales-battery-costs-12-1/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alan mulally</category><category>battery price</category><category>electric car</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>focus</category><category>focus electric</category><category>focus ev</category><category>ford</category><category>ford focus electric</category><category>ford focus ev</category><category>kwh</category><category>price per kwh</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford Focus will be first all-electric pace car in NASCAR]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-electric/#photo-3742458"><img height="387" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/focuselectric81hr-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
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If you thought <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/06/18/ford-focus-pace-car-will-start-tomorrows-nascar-race/">pacing a NASCAR race with a Ford Fiesta</a> was an odd choice, prepare to be properly shocked. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> has announced the company is once again heading out onto the nation's tri-ovals, this time with the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/focus electric">Focus Electric</a>. The automaker claims the battery-powered hatchback will be the world's first all-electric pace car when it leads the field at the Richmond 400 later this month. The public will get its first shot at seeing Focus Electric Pace Car on April 25, when Lt. Governor Bill Bolling drives the EV to Richmond International Raceway.<br />
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Earlier this year, Ford announced the Focus Electric will offer buyers a range of around 75 miles depending on driving conditions. We assume that figure will fall off precipitously at pace speed. With around 123 horsepower on hand, Ford has been <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/ford-focus-electric-officially-rated-at-105-mpge-with-a-76-mile/">quick to brag</a> that the company's EV offers buyers more horsepower than the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/leaf">Nissan Leaf</a>. Of course, at $39,200, it is also $4,000 more expensive.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford Focus will be first all-electric pace car in NASCAR</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/">Ford Focus will be first all-electric pace car in NASCAR</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20216772/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ford-focus-will-be-first-all-electric-pace-car-in-nascar/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>electric pace car</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>focus electric</category><category>focus electric pace car</category><category>ford</category><category>ford focus electric</category><category>ford focus electric pace car</category><category>nascar</category><category>richmond 400</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zach Bowman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford: Focus Electric's ads going online because EVs not yet ready for prime time]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-focus-electrics-ads-going-online-because-evs-not-yet-read/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-focus-electrics-ads-going-online-because-evs-not-yet-read/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-focus-electrics-ads-going-online-because-evs-not-yet-read/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-electric/" target="_blank"><img alt="2012 Ford Focus Electric in motion" class="post_top_img" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/ford-focus-electric-in-motion.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 391px; " /></a><br />
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Sometimes, things just can't find a home on "regular" TV. Just ask Saturday Night Live's Not Ready for Prime Time players - or the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">Ford Focus Electric</a>.<br />
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Turns out, <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> will spend about a tenth of what it usually spends on new-model launches on the all-electric Focus and will shoot for a more digital emphasis in the process because of uncertainty over how the cars will sell, a company executive told Bloomberg Businessweek.<br />
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Ford, which often spends in the neighborhood of $100 million publicizing a model launch, will likely spend less than $10 million on the Focus EV's digital campaign. That's according to John Felice, general manager of Ford and <a href="http://autoblog.com/lincoln">Lincoln</a> sales. Ford is likely hedging its bets because of launches of cars like the <a href="http://autoblog.com/chevroelt/volt">Chevrolet Volt</a> and <a href="http://autoblog.com/fisker/karma">Fisker Karma</a> extended-range plug-ins that could best be described as "spotty."<br />
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On Wednesday, Ford said its digital campaign will include <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FordElectricVehicles">a game on Facebook</a> that will let social-media users take "digital road trips." Players can use Mapquest to figure out how far the drive is to certain locations, and whether the Focus EV would be able to get them their without having to get out and push it.<br />
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Ford, which started production on the Focus EV in Michigan late last year, also said earlier this week that the EV would be <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/">featured in a reality-competition series</a> called "Plugged In" that will be broadcast on Yahoo! starting in May. That series will involve two-person teams competing in a scavenger-hunt type competition and will take place in 10 U.S. markets, including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" production company Magic Elves is creating the show, whose competition winners will be awarded Focus EVs.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-focus-electrics-ads-going-online-because-evs-not-yet-read/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford: Focus Electric's ads going online because EVs not yet ready for prime time</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-focus-electrics-ads-going-online-because-evs-not-yet-read/">Ford: Focus Electric's ads going online because EVs not yet ready for prime time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-focus-electrics-ads-going-online-because-evs-not-yet-read/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20215388/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-focus-electrics-ads-going-online-because-evs-not-yet-read/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2013 ford focus</category><category>digital advertising</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>facebook</category><category>focus</category><category>focus electric</category><category>focus ev</category><category>ford</category><category>ford focus electric</category><category>yahoo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford, Dow Chemical partner on carbon fiber composites, hope to shed up to 750 pounds]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/lightweight/" rel="tag">Lightweight</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/vaughn-gittin-jr-rtr-c-mustang/"><img alt="Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang from SEMA 2009" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/carbor-fiber-mustang-opt.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 420px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/">Ford</a> is getting religion when it comes to light-weighting its vehicles. The company has entered into a new partnership with <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/tag/dow+chemical/">Dow Chemical</a> to develop <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/carbon%20fiber/">carbon fiber</a> that can be manufactured at affordable prices for high-volume applications. That, of course, is the holy grail of weight reduction, which is why other manufacturers like <a href="http://autoblog.com/bmw">BMW</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/gm/">General Motors</a> are also <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/09/gm-gets-serious-about-widespread-use-of-carbon-fiber/">partnering with suppliers</a> to try and <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/bmw-m3-crt-showcases-i3-i8-carbon-fiber-tech/">achieve the same ends</a>.<br />
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Now before you get too excited about the carbon-fiber <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/mustang/">Mustang</a> in the photos, understand that it was just a limited-production car shown at <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/sema/">SEMA</a> in 2009, and it carried a price tag of $135,000. That's the problem with carbon fiber parts - they are expensive because they are much more difficult to manufacture in volume than steel.<br />
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But if Ford and other carmakers are going to achieve the sorts of fuel economy improvements required by new regulations, they're going to have to either scale carbon fiber or dramatically shrink the size of most vehicles. Ford says it's targeting a 750-pound weight reduction per vehicle by the end of the decade.<br />
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<a href="/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/#continued">Scroll down</a> to read the full press release.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford, Dow Chemical partner on carbon fiber composites, hope to shed up to 750 pounds</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/">Ford, Dow Chemical partner on carbon fiber composites, hope to shed up to 750 pounds</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20215024/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-dow-chemical-partner-on-carbon-fiber-composites-hope-to-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>carbon fiber</category><category>dow</category><category>dow chemical</category><category>ford</category><category>ford carbon fiber</category><category>light weight</category><category>lightweight</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeff Sabatini]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ford Focus EV will be featured in Yahoo! reality series]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a></p><img height="286"  src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/yahoo-ford-focus-electric-628.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /><br />
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The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">Ford Focus Electric</a> will be featured in a reality-competition series to be broadcast over the Internet on Yahoo! starting next month.<br />
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Yahoo!'s first-ever reality-competition series, called - naturally enough - "Plugged In," will involve two-person teams competing against each other in a scavenger hunt of sorts. The teams will be given Focus EVs and will need to use their on-board navigation and communications systems to get the necessary clues to the hunt for specific locations around the cities where the show will be shot.<br />
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The competition will include certain celebrity hosts yet to be named and will take place in 10 EV-friendly markets: Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Atlanta, and Raleigh, NC. The winners will win - of course - a Focus EV. Magical Elves, whose credits include "Project Runway" and "Top Chef," is producing the show.<br />
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Ford started sales of the Focus EV on the East and West Coasts late last year and will expand availability nationwide by September. The Focus, which Ford says can <a href="http://www.green.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/ford-focus-electric-100-mpge-c-max-models/">go as far as 100 miles</a> on a single charge and was rated by the EPA as getting <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/ford-focus-electric-officially-rated-at-105-mpge-with-a-76-mile/">76 miles</a>, starts at $39,200 before the $7,500 federal tax credit.<br />
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This week, Men's Health is starting doing i<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/">ts own promotion that includes the Focus EV</a>, kicking off its effort to set a coast-to-coast record-time drive in an electric vehicle on Wednesday. The Electric Car Challenge, which starts in New York is set to end at the Santa Monica on or about April 22 (Earth Day), will raise money for military families.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford Focus EV will be featured in Yahoo! reality series</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/">Ford Focus EV will be featured in Yahoo! reality series</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:05:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20212720/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/ford-focus-ev-will-be-featured-in-yahoo-reality-series/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>electric vehicle</category><category>focus electric</category><category>ford</category><category>magical elves</category><category>reality series</category><category>reality show</category><category>yahoo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:05:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[<i>Men's Health</i> looks to set coast-to-coast electric-vehicle record in Ford Focus Electric]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-culture/" rel="tag">Green Culture</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/north-america/" rel="tag">North America</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><img alt="mens health ford focus" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/focusmenshealth.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 561px;" /><br />
It's not exactly the Cannonball Run, but, hey, it's for a good cause.<br />
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<em>Men's Health</em> is looking to set what it says will be a coast-to-coast record-time drive in an electric vehicle while raising money for military families when it sponsors the drive of a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus+electric/">Ford Focus Electric</a> in its so-called Electric Car Challenge across the country starting next week.<br />
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<em>Top Gear</em> USA co-host Tanner Foust, IndyCar racer Martin Plowman, ex-Navy SEAL commander Coleman Ruiz and Miss Indiana 2009 Nicole Pollard will be among the road-trippers who will depart New York City on April 11 in a Focus Electric loaned out by Ford and make what looks to be a 10- to 12-day trip across the country. The drivers, who expect to recharge the car every 40 to 55 miles, are shooting for getting to Santa Monica Pier by April 22, which is Earth Day.<br />
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Speed won't be paramount since highway driving tends to drain an EV's battery at a quicker rate, and the drivers will be looking to readers and other supporters with a 240-volt electric supply to string their power supply across the country, since much of the nation doesn't have an electric-vehicle charging infrastructure in place (yet). Of course, having a recent Miss Indiana along for the ride probably won't hurt that effort.<br />
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Along the way,<em> Men's Health</em>, which is owned by Rodale, will raise money for Carry the Load, a foundation supporting families of U.S. military members killed in combat. Ruiz is executive director of the organization.<br />
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The Ford Focus Electric started sales on the U.S. East and West Coasts in November, though won't be available nationwide until this September. Ford, which is base-pricing the car at $39,200 before the $7,500 federal tax credit, has said the car can <a href="http://www.green.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/ford-focus-electric-100-mpge-c-max-models/">go as far as 100 miles on a single charge</a>.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em><i>Men's Health</i> looks to set coast-to-coast electric-vehicle record in Ford Focus Electric</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/"><i>Men's Health</i> looks to set coast-to-coast electric-vehicle record in Ford Focus Electric</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:52:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20209865/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/07/mens-health-looks-to-set-coast-to-coast-electric-vehicle-record/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>coast-to-coast</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>focus electric</category><category>ford</category><category>ford focus electric</category><category>mens health</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Danny King]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:52:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Volkswagen Up! named 2012 World Car of the Year]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/volkswagen-up-named-2012-world-car-of-the-year/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/volkswagen-up-named-2012-world-car-of-the-year/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/volkswagen-up-named-2012-world-car-of-the-year/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/" rel="tag">New York Auto Show</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive/"><img height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/01-2012-volkswagen-up.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
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	As is tradition, Day Two of the <a href="http://autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show">2012 New York Auto Show</a> kicked off with the annual World Car of the Year awards. Global entries competed for honors in four different categories, and from the initial list of 34 contenders, the final four were selected this morning.<br />
	<br />
	The big winner was the <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/up">2012 Volkswagen Up!</a> subcompact, which takes home the honor of World Car of the Year, beating out its other finalists, the <a href="http://autoblog.com/bmw/3+series">BMW 3 Series</a> and <a href="http://autoblog.com/porsche/911">Porsche 911</a>. We've had a chance to drive VW's tiny runabout and, while it would be hard for the automaker to justify offering something this small in the United States (right now), we'd gladly welcome its tossable city dynamics and efficiency here on our shores. With a small bump in power, it could certainly show the <a href="http://autoblog.com/fiat/500">Fiat 500</a> who's boss.<br />
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	But the Up! wasn't the only car praised in New York this morning. The new 991-series Porsche 911 was named World Performance Car of the Year, besting other nominees like the <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/aventador">Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4</a> and <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/mp4-12c">McLaren MP4-12C</a>. Stiff competition, for sure, but you just can't match the 911's razor-sharp precision, not to mention that this new 991 model is easily the best 911 yet.<br />
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	Moving on to a different sort of performance, the <a href="http://autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/s-class">Mercedes-Benz S250 CDI BlueEfficiency</a> took top honors for its eco-performance, securing the World Green Car of the Year award. In this segment, the other two finalists were the <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/focus+electric">Ford Focus Electric</a> and Peugeot 3008 Hybrid greenlings.<br />
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	Lastly, the WCOY jury selected the <a href="http://autoblog.com/land+rover/evoque">Land Rover Range Rover Evoque</a> for the World Car Design of the Year - not really a surprise, seeing as how the baby Range Rover has been praised for its styling ever since the day it launched. Our condolences to the Citro&euml;n DS5 and Volkswagen Up! - you guys just aren't pretty enough.<br />
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	See all of the World Car winners in our attached high-res galleries, and stay tuned for more details about this year's awards later today.<br />
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	<em>Full disclosure: Author is a juror and co-chair of the World Car of the Year Awards.</em></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/volkswagen-up-named-2012-world-car-of-the-year/">Volkswagen Up! named 2012 World Car of the Year</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:24:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/volkswagen-up-named-2012-world-car-of-the-year/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20209213/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/volkswagen-up-named-2012-world-car-of-the-year/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 world car of the year</category><category>911</category><category>evoque</category><category>featured</category><category>focus</category><category>focus electric</category><category>ford</category><category>land rover</category><category>new york</category><category>new york 2012</category><category>new york auto show</category><category>porsche</category><category>range rover</category><category>up</category><category>volkswagen</category><category>wcoty</category><category>world car of the year</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Davis]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:24:00 EST</pubDate>
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