Tech & Biz

Ford teams with Magna to develop All-Electric Car

by Mary Richard | January 11, 2009 at 09:01 pm

1034 views | 14 Recommendations | 5 comments

DETROIT — Magna International Inc. is making a big leap into the electric vehicle age with a strategic alliance with Ford Motor Co. to supply key engine components for a new battery-powered vehicle.

The battery-powered compact car represents a key part of Ford's electric vehicle strategy during the next few years, which also includes more traditional gas-electric hybrids, new plug-in hybrids and a battery-powered commercial van.

Ford officials outlined the strategy Sunday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Magna's partnership with Ford comes just two months after the auto parts maker announced it was buying BluWav Systems LLC, a Michigan developer and supplier of electric and energy management systems for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The Ford link-up with Magna comes after the Canadian auto parts giant took a Ford Focus and redeveloped it to run on battery power as way to showcase the breadth of its capabilities to auto makers. In addition to simple parts, Magna designs and assembles modules as well as complete vehicles under contract to car companies.

Ford plans to have 10,000 such battery-powered compact cars on the road beginning in 2011 - it will be a global vehicle that will be sold in the three key markets of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Ms. Samardzich, Ford's vice-president of powertrain engeering said.

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TDH

at 12:42 on January 12th, 2009

Ford's new full electric will compete nicely with GM's Volt. The Volt has a battery powered distance of about 60kms while the new Ford electric is claiming 160kms. Thanks for bringing this one up!

Edmund Jenks

at 21:10 on June 5th, 2009

Nice article - please post more stories like this with the Motorsports TAG.

This is the home for anything that concerns itself with Automobile Culture.

Thanks for the TAG.

Shocks (not verified)

at 21:10 on June 9th, 2009

Ford & GM's volt. I wonder which electric car would go over the other. Hybrid systems are definitely much better and could already answer some of our major concerns for the planet

ford f150 parts (not verified)

at 16:56 on August 17th, 2009

Nice news from Ford and Magna to create and develop an all electric car... hope this is much better than the Volt...

Mia Spears (not verified)

at 17:02 on August 17th, 2009

Im sure it will be a tough competition between GM's Volt, for its features are really great, well im thinking of the parts used (ford f150 parts) if it can be used in the Ford's electric car...