Why Ford Chose the C-Max As its First Plug-In Hybrid

Ford announced at this week's Detroit Auto Show that the 2012 C-Max, a five-passenger minivan, will be the company's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, as well as the first plug-in minivan from a major automaker. At first glance, it's a strange choice for the company's first plug-in. The seven-passenger C-Max has been available in Europe since 2003, but the name is virtually unknown in the United States--Ford didn't think the U.S. was ready for a compact minivan until recently. Now the vehicle is coming to the U.S. in 2012 in three flavors--a combustion engine-powered version, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid.

Ford chose the C-Max as its first plug-in hybrid because it wants to make a statement about how the company moves forward with its electrification offerings, explains John Davis, chief engineer for the C-Max."There's a blend between functional capabilities and fuel-efficiency,"he says."The C-Max brings forth multi-activity vehicle capability without going as large as other vehicles, so there is a still great base efficiency."

And as for the jump to the U.S.? Ford finally thinks that Americans want fuel efficiency in their larger vehicles. Much like the recently announcedPrius V,"The C-Max is the sweet spot of a small car that's not too small, and that provides great flexibility,"Davis says.

Toyota hasn't announced any plans for a plug-in version of the Prius V, but chances are high that it will come soon--the company already has plans to debut a plug-in third generation Prius in the near future. Once that happens, the five-seater vehicle will likely provide strong competition for the C-Max.

The C-Max hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid both feature impressive fuel economy. The hybrid can travel up to 47 mph in all-electric mode, and the Energi plug-in offers more than 500 miles of overall driving range with the battery and engine. That's more than any other plug-in or extended-range EV.

And while Ford has only formally announced the release of one all-electric vehicle--the Focus--an electric C-MAX isn't out of the question."Clearly we want to see what the broader reaction is to the Focus Electric,"Davis explains."But you can expect a greater percentage of our entire vehicle fleet migrating to being able to offer both electric and plug-in as well as hybrids."

 

Read more coverage of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

Ariel Schwartz can be reached onTwitteror byemail.

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