"We believe in democratizing electric cars"
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“We believe in democratizing electric cars” Ford has announced that by the end of 2021 it will have 18 electrified models on sale on the European market. Its line-up includes mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full hybrids, together with fully electric models. In the interview, Matthias Tonn and Michael Geaney, two engineers from Ford, give more details about the company’s “Ford goes electric” strategy.
ATZ _ Michael Geaney, Matthias Tonn,
Ford is producing cars with different levels of electrification. What are the differences between them? And what strategies are you adopting for the different car segments?
Ford invested in the electrification of its product range at a very early stage. This year alone, we will be bringing 14 electrified models onto the marGEANEY _
22
ket in Europe. By the end of 2021, we will have 18. Ford is taking a technologyneutral approach, which means that we are offering a wide variety of models with electrified powertrains. In our range, we have cars with mild hybrid (48-V technology), plug-in hybrid and full hybrid drives. We will soon be launching fully electric models, such
as the Mustang Mach-E. As Ford is Europe’s leading supplier of light commercial vehicles, our electrification strategy also covers this important segment. Ford is putting the emphasis on democratizing its electrification process, which means offering electrified models for different budgets. We are offering versions of our electric cars,
for example the new Mustang Mach-E, with different battery sizes. Anyone who does not need the longest possible range can opt for the smaller battery and therefore the more affordable car. Does a plug-in hybrid powertrain make sense in smaller models? GEANEY _ Not
normally, because the drive system and the battery are too heavy for the car. In addition, the cost is high in relation to the price of the vehicle. What size of battery is suitable for the different applications, and how do you decide on the best size? GEANEY _ The
battery size depends on the purpose the car is most often used for, which is generally the daily commute to work or trips to the store. If you can cover the distance in electric mode, the ideal solution is the combination of an electric motor and a gasoline engine. In the Ford Fiesta with a 48-V system, the belt-driven starter-generator supports the engine at the lower end of the rev range. ATZ worldwide 10|2020
© Thomas Starck | Ford
© Thomas Starck | Ford
Matthias Tonn, B. Sc. MBA(born in 1969) is Head Program Engineer at Ford of Europe and since 2018 has been responsible for preparing cars such as the Mustang, the Edge and the fully electric Mach-E SUV for the European market. In 1994 Tonn gained a degree in mechanical engineering and in 1997 an MBA. He worked for two years on the production of aircraft engines at BMW Rolls-Royce in Frankfurt am Main, before moving to the Ford plant in Cologne (both Germany) as an engineer in the final assembly team in 1998.
Michael Geaney, M. Sc. MBA (born in 1969) is Head Pro
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