Ford Reinforces Commitment to Electric Vehicles With Workplace Charging Network

• Ford launches new workplace charging network, allowing more employees to accomplish their daily commute entirely on electricity
• Ford customers now have logged 30 million all-electric miles in the company's full range of plug-in electric vehicles, saving more than 1.2 million kilograms of CO₂
• Ford delivered its best August U.S. electrified vehicle sales ever with 8,292 vehicles sold, up 288 percent over the same period a year ago. August marks the 11^th consecutive month Ford achieved electrified vehicle sales records

More Ford employees soon will be able to drive to work entirely on electricity, thanks to a new workplace charging network being installed at nearly every Ford facility in the U.S. and Canada.

Ford plans to install electric vehicle charging stations at more than 50 of its company offices, product development campuses and manufacturing facilities. Installation will begin later this year and roll out across company facilities throughout 2014.

"Ford's commitment to sustainability extends beyond our fuel-efficient vehicles to include our daily workplace," said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure. "We know that a growing electrified vehicle infrastructure is key to making plug-in vehicles a viable option for more consumers. Ford is committed to doing our part to help grow that infrastructure."

Ford employees will be able to charge the all-electric Focus Electric, as well as Ford's two plug-in hybrids – the Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi – at the charge stations. The service will initially be free to employees for the first four hours. Ford estimates it will cost the company about 50 cents to fully charge a vehicle, saving employees up to $2 in gasoline each day.

Ford's workplace EV chargers are different from competitor programs in that they will be networked together. As a result, the company will be able to gather additional information on electrified vehicle use, such as the number of hours vehicles are charging and the amount of CO₂  reduced.

Ford already has more than 1,700 charging stations at Ford dealerships and company facilities in North America. The new workplace chargers will add approximately 200 more.

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, the number of charge stations – both public and residential – is growing rapidly. In 2009, there were 3,000 known public charge stations. Today, there are more than 20,000.

30 million electric miles

Ford Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi drivers typically make three of their four daily trips in all-electric mode, based on data from Ford's MyFord Mobile app. In fact, every 10 days, Ford customers drive approximately 1 million miles on electricity alone. In total, Ford customers now have logged 30 million all-electric miles driving the full range of plug-in vehicles, saving more than 1.2 million kilograms of CO_2.

Current customer data from the Fusion Energi and CMAX Energi is showing that three of every four trips are accomplished on electricity alone. By adding another charge during the day at the workplace, it is likely that employees will be able to accomplish all of their work week trips without using gasoline.

Electrified vehicle sales success

The popularity of Ford's electrified vehicles led to the company's best-ever retail U.S. sales results for Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid vehicles in August. That contributed to Ford's best August electrified vehicle sales ever, with 8,292 vehicles sold, up 288 percent over the same period a year ago.

August also marked the 11^th consecutive month Ford achieved electrified vehicle sales records. Nearly two-thirds of new Ford electrified vehicle sales are coming from buyers trading in other car brands.

Did you ever think you'd see the Detroit Three doing this well? It wasn't long ago that we suffered through The Great Collapse. Now manufacturers are asking "Where Are The Workers?"

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General Motors Nearly Triples Size of Battery Laboratory

GM Battery Laboratory
(photo by John Martin for GM)

WARREN, Mich. – General Motors has nearly tripled the size of its Global Battery Systems Laboratory, cementing the lab’s stature as the largest battery lab in North America owned and operated by a major auto manufacturer.

The latest addition of 50,000 square feet brings to 85,000 the total square footage of the lab. The expansion made possible the increase in the number of pack-level test channels from 64 to 112 and cell-level test channels from 96 to120.  

“In the past four years, the competitive landscape in the electrification space has grown exponentially. This has required us to raise our game and draw a new line in the sand,” said Doug Parks, GM vice president, global product programs. “To maintain our battery leadership, this additional real estate is filled with new capability that will help us improve speed to market for our next generation of battery systems and help us improve the value equation to our customers around the world.”

GM Tech Center
Warren, Michigan

GM’s Global Battery Systems Lab has been responsible for testing and validating both battery cells and packs for all of GM’s vehicle electrification systems, including the battery systems for theChevrolet Volt, Cadillac ELR, Chevrolet Spark EV and GM’s eAssist light electrification system. 

The additional capabilities of the lab expansion include:

• dedicated equipment for future vehicle battery system development such as charger development and testing, cord set testing and competitive benchmarking;
• building prototype battery packs for vehicle development programs; and,
• the ability to act as the hub for validation and testing of all battery systems designed for use in future GM vehicles around the world.

The lab will also play a critical role in assuring GM’s current generation of electric vehicles maintain their battery leadership position. Teams will validate and test updates to existing chemistries and system designs to make the most of performance and reduce cost. For example, updates were made to the battery system in 2013 Chevrolet Volt that added three miles of EV range. 

“GM is committed to vehicle electrification and our products in this area must continue to excite customers. A critical part of this plan is to deliver safe, reliable and affordable energy storage systems,” said Larry Nitz, GM’s executive director of global electrification engineering. “The new capabilities of this lab will enhance our engineers’ ability to design, develop, process and validate class-leading products to meet the needs of our growing customer base."

In addition to the lab in Michigan, GM also operates battery labs in Shanghai, China, and Mainz-Kastel, Germany, which are tasked with testing and validation of battery cells, packs, and advanced battery system development. Teams at the China, Germany and Michigan labs work collectively to test battery systems around the clock to reduce validation time.

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