Ford Motor Company has a comprehensive strategy to say “Goodbye to Gasoline” completely in the next decade. Electric Vehicles are different than traditional gasoline powered vehicles. Below you will learn the key characteristics of each type of EV and their benefits.
Typically an EV (electric vehicle) is a smart vehicle that utilizes a high voltage battery coupled with an electric motor in order to replace the traditional gasoline engine.
Types of Electrified Vehicles
You may have also heard the term BEV or Battery Electric Vehicle used as well as Plug-In and hybrid vehicles. All of these types are EVs but provide you fuel in different ways.
HYBRID VEHICLE
These vehicles use a traditional internal combustion engine complete with a traditional fuel tank. The difference comes with the addition of an electric motor and a high capacity, high voltage battery. On a hybrid vehicle the battery is automatically recharged each time you brake. The energy saved to the battery is then used to assist the gas engine. Without any input from the driver a hybrid vehicle usually produces substantially improved fuel economy.
PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE
This type of vehicle has all the equipment of a traditional hybrid vehicle with the additional option of externally charging the battery with a charge cord. Many PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) also include a larger battery in order to maximize the benefits of external charging in addition to the regenerative braking. Plug-In Hybrids also provide the driver with the option to use the electricity stored in the battery or the gas in the traditional engine. This has been a great option for people who have high levels of range anxiety. Once the battery is depleted the vehicle automatically adjusts to use the traditional gas engine without prompting.
ALL_ELECTRIC VEHICLE
With this type of EV the gas engine and components are completely replaced with an electric motor and a high capacity battery in addition to the regenerative braking technology. Exclusively electric cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs completely run on electricity and no gas is ever needed. That being said these vehicles must be recharges regularly. Due to their increased capacity, all electric Ford vehicles can travel many more miles on electricity alone than the other types of EVs.
Smart Vehicles for a Smart World.
Ford has been working towards an electric future for a long time. In fact, way back in 1913 Henry Ford partnered with Thomas Edison on an electric car project. While it was not mass produced it did set the stage for the EVs of today. Over the last 20 years Ford has accelerated EV efforts. Selling more than one million EVs sold by Ford Motor Company already. Recently it was announced that they have earmarked $26 billion to develop EV even further.
Ford Motor Company is working to improve EV performance while also increasing the range of dedicated all-electric powered vehicles. Battery research and development are also a big part of the investment. It isn’t a secret that EV sales over the last five years have grown incrementally and show no sign of slowing. Projections estimate that by 2025 electric powered vehicles will account for ten percent of all vehicles on the road.
Benefits of electrically powered vehicles
As you get older you tend to agree that it’s the little things in life that can make all the difference. One of these “little things” often cited by owners of EVs is PreConiditioning. This feature will bring the vehicle to your preset desired temperature. On those hot days it starts the air conditioning before it is ever unplugged to help ensure that you get the most from your battery and enjoy the comforts at the same time. This feature can be controlled by your FordPass app on your smart phone or by the touch screen in the vehicle itself.
Near instant torque and impressive acceleration are a few of the other benefits that surprise new owners.
“Many people are genuinely surprised by the instant torque and performance off the line. Most people who visit us to learn about our electrified options know about the battery type and size but weren’t aware of the performance benefits. You may not consider your traditional gas vehicle to be noisy but once you experience driving an all electric engine, the sheer absence of noise makes it apparent. Owning an EV these days is not like it was in the beginning. There are charging stations everywhere. The touchscreen in the center stack of the vehicle will even display the charging stations near you. Range anxiety is no longer a valid concern for the vast majority of drivers.”
David Miller, New Car Sales Manager
On the road EV owners have access to thousands of charging stations, both paid and unpaid. Going green really can save you money. Partnering with your electric power utility company can also be helpful. Locally, Portland General Electric offers discounts when you choose to charge your EV in off peak hours.
PGE provides a home charging rebate up to $1,000
There are lots of incentives an rebates when you purchase or lease a NEW Electric Vehicle in Oregon. The Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program can save you up to $5,000 on the purchase or lease of a qualifiying electrified vehicle.Below is a list of the Ford vehicles that qualify for a $2500 rebate.
- Ford C-Max Energi
- Escape Plug-In Hybrid
- Mustang Mach-E
Unfortunately the rebate amount for the F-150 Lightning All Electric Truck has not be released yet. We do know that the Blue Oval Charge Network offers over 63,000 plugs from established charging providers. This network brings multiple brands and charging locations to your touchscreen and your Ford Pass app. And if you do inadvertently run out of power the Ford All Electric Roadside Assistance is also available with a free tow to the nearest charging station.
FAQs about Electrified Vehicles
Q: How much spaces does a hybrid battery take up?
A: While each vehicle’s high voltage battery differs in size, hybrid batteries are located in areas to take up minimal cargo space.
Q: Where can a Ford EV be serviced?
A: Ford and Lincoln hybrid vehicles and/or plug-in hybrid vehicles can be serviced at any Ford or Lincoln dealership. All-electric vehicles, as well as certain EV components can only be serviced at an EV certified Ford Dealership. Gresham Ford is a EV certified dealership with multiple Senior Master Certified Technicians who specialize in servicing electrified vehicles built by Ford.
Q: How much does it cost to charge an EV?
A: Charging costs are based on the price per kilowatt hour or the time spent charging. These factors are set by the provider of the charging station. The charging stations that you see at your gym, the airport, the grocery store, may be public or operated by a charging company like Blink. As we write this, the rates the rates vary between $0.39 and $0.59 depending on your membership status and they type of charging you choose; Level 2 or DC Fast Charging.
In general there may be cheaper to charge than filling up at a gas station. However, some DC Fast-Charging stations can be more expensive than filling a traditional gasoline engine. You can use the Ford Pass app to see the cost to charge at any Blue Oval Charge Network charging station before you even arrive. It’s just one more way that Ford is working to procure and establish options that will make your experience outstanding. We all want to help save the planet and decrease pollution but no one wants to sacrifice their comfort or time to accomplish it.
Q: Do I have to pay extra for charging equipment?
A: Each Ford EV that can be plugged in comes standard with a compatible charging cord. Additional items to equip a residence for faster changing are available to purchase from the Gresham Ford Parts department. Again Public charging stations include a built in charge cord, so there is no need to bring yours from home. Many of us at the dealership have personally owned either a Plug-In Hybrid vehicle or a fully electric one. Our experience has been that charging your vehicle while you sleep provides more than enough time to fully charge your vehicle just using a normal 110V plug you have in your garage or even on the side of your house. Instead of Christmas lights you can fill your battery.
Q: Can an EV be charged in the snow or the rain?
A: Yes, a thousand times yes. This is a big one for the northwest based on our record setting amounts of rain, snow, sleet, and slush we recieve each year. All the chargin components are protected against inclement weather. Clear out any snow from the charge connector or port before plugging in. It’s that easy.
Q: Where can I find more answers to my EV questions?
A:We are a little biased but we suggest you come to the corner of East Powell and 3rd just outside of hisotric downtown Gresham under the blue oval. We enjoy geeking out over all the new technology that Ford has offer and applying it to real world use scenarios. Questions like yours even help us to get to know the Ford Electric Powered Vehicles better. You can also connect with us on any of our social channels too. Let’s learn together.
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