At its recent ‘Go Further’ event in Amsterdam, Ford announced major plans for the electrification of its passenger car and light commercial vehicle ranges. Committed to an electric future, the headline news was that the new Kuga due later in 2019 will be the most electrified Ford ever.
The new Kuga will offer mild, full and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The Kuga Plug-In Hybrid will be capable of a minimum of 31 miles of electric range, powered by a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine, allied to a 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery. Emissions are claimed to be as low as 29g/km. Ford states that the battery can be charged by regenerative braking while on the move, or by a four-hour charge when connected to a 230-volt electricity supply.
The Kuga Hybrid due in 2020 is a full hybrid using a similar self-charging powertrain to the Plug-In, but with higher anticipated commissions of 130g/km. The Kuga EcoBlue Hybrid meanwhile is a mild-hybrid which marries Ford’s 150hp 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine to a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG). The BISG recovers and stores energy during deceleration and also charges the 48-volt lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack as well as providing electric torque assistance to the engine. An all-new seven-seat Explorer Plug-In Hybrid will also be available, and an electric ‘Mustang-inspired’ SUV is slated to join the line-up in 2020.
Under the newly-unveiled ‘Ford Hybrid’ banner, the best-selling Fiesta and Focus will also gain mild-hybrid versions, and similar powertrains for the Transit 2-tonne and Transit Custom vans will also arrive. A Transit EV will arrive in 2021. “From Fiesta to Transit, every new vehicle we introduce will feature an electrified version that best suits the needs of our customers in an affordable way,” said Stuart Rowley, president, Ford of Europe.
