Renewable Gossip

Mulally Prioritizes Ford’s High-MPG Technologies

Ford CEO Alan Mulally, the Ford Focus EV, and the Ford Escape Hybrid.

Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford, pledged yesterday to form an alliance with the Edison Electric Institute to work on plug-in cars. Speaking at EEI’s annual convention in San Francisco on Thursday, Mulallly outlined his company’s path toward high fuel-efficiency, which included—but by no means was limited to—electric vehicle technology.

Mulally said improving the current internal combustion engine through technologies such as turbocharging and direct injection—the core of the Ford “EcoBoost” program—is Ford’s top priority. Beyond that, Ford will pursue smaller vehicles, such as the upcoming Fiesta, as well as lightweight materials and transmission improvements. Mulally said that, contrary to conventional wisdom, “the US does appreciate smaller vehicles,” citing the success foreign automakers have had bringing in small, high-quality vehicles. Ford’s diminutive Ka, though popular in Europe, “might be too small for here, but we can have it here right away” if the market shifts.

Ford will utilize $5.9 billion in low-interest government loans, awarded earlier this week, to pursue its “improvement” strategies.

Moving down what Mulally called his “road map,” Ford will pursue alternative fuels and hybrids—exemplified by the E85-compatible plug-in hybrid Escape on display in San Francisco. “Our technology is such that we’re on our second, third, fourth generation of hybrid vehicles,” said Mulally. “Progress on battery technology is encouraging us that these technology advances will continue.”

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