Giving Away Ford’s Secrets

by Keith Morgan on Wednesday, June 10th, 2015

“Ford believes sharing its patented technologies will promote faster development of future inventions as all automakers look toward greater opportunities.”

The 2014 Ford C-MAX Hybrid has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for the second consecutive year. The organization performed multiple crash tests on C-MAX Hybrid, resulting in a “good” rating in side crash, roof strength, restraint and seating evaluations.

Ford is opening its portfolio of electrified vehicle technology patents to competitive automakers to accelerate industry-wide research and development of electrified vehicles.

In 2014, Ford filed for 400-plus electrified vehicle patents – more than 20 per cent of the total patents the company applied for last year

“Innovation is our goal,” said Kevin Layden, director, Ford Electrification Programs. “The way to provide the best technology is through constant development and progress. By sharing our research with other companies, we will accelerate the growth of electrified vehicle technology and deliver even better products to customers.”

Ford Motor Company currently offers six hybrid or fully electrified vehicles including Ford Focus Electric, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, Ford C-MAX Hybrid, Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. In total, Ford has more than 650 electrified vehicle patents and approximately 1,000 pending patent applications on electrified vehicle technologies.

Ford believes sharing its patented technologies will promote faster development of future inventions as all automakers look toward greater opportunities.

“As an industry, we need to collaborate while we continue to challenge each other,” said Layden. “By sharing ideas, companies can solve bigger challenges and help improve the industry.”

As part of Ford’s increased focus on new and innovative technologies, the automaker is set to hire an additional 200 electrified vehicle engineers this year as the team moves into a newly dedicated facility – Ford Engineering Laboratories – home to Henry Ford’s first labs in Dearborn.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

Going Green to the C-MAX Can Be Costly

by Keith Morgan on Monday, November 24th, 2014

“No quibble with the quality of the vehicle and the fuel efficiency but the sticker price does cause a sharp intake of breath…”

To plug in or not to plug in, that is the question faced by the well-heeled, nobler in mind kind of person, who is determined to go green with the next car purchase.

Forgive me for mashing up the words of my old expat mate Will Shakespeare, but reducing one’s carbon footprint is not easy on the pocket book in spite of the fuel savings on offer by “doing the right thing.” Whichever model you plump for from any of the leading hybrid manufacturers, you are going to pay a premium in the thousands over the equivalent standard gas-powered model. In pure economic terms, it will take years of fuel savings to bridge that investment gap.

If you go for a plug-in that offers emission free driving on electric power only for varying stretches of road, you are likely looking at a ten grand premium on top of the pure hybrid sticker price. (more…)