Yesterday, Bill Ford spoke at a press conference where he introduced the company's new car-to-grid communication system. It's a trick piece of technology, but we were curious about what Mr. Ford thought about some of the other "green" news circulating around the automotive industry. Here are a few choice quotes.
On whether Ford should make its own batteries: "Initially, we should just buy batteries. We don't have any particular expertise in batteries. We'll probably stick to the vehicle-integration part of the puzzle."
On GM and Nissan huge claims for mpg for Volt and Leaf: "This question devolves into madness. The government will have to come up with a meaningful number for customers -- a user-friendly label. And I think they will. I can't dispute that number but I'm not sure it's relevant to the customer either."
On Magna International probably buying Opel (Magna is helping Ford engineer its future electric vehicles): "We've certainly spoken with Magna about this. We think there's no need for concern at this time."
Also: "We're using existing vehicles that we understand well and adding these various technologies such as BEV and plug-in hybrids. This also allows us to flex production if demand is greater or less than we projected."
stovt001 says:
10:38 AM, 08/19/09
"On GM and Nissan huge claims for mpg for Volt and Leaf: "This question devolves into madness. The government will have to come up with a meaningful number for customers -- a user-friendly label. And I think they will. I can't dispute that number but I'm not sure it's relevant to the customer either.""
Those thoughts mirror my own. Those huge ratings are perfectly fine for CAFE reasons, but in addition to those ratings there is going to have to be a new number for consumers to use to compare electric cars. Energy costs per mile perhaps?
brn says:
11:48 AM, 08/19/09
I agree. Bill's statement concerning the Volt and Leaf ratings are right on the money.
bankerdanny says:
01:41 PM, 08/19/09
He's entirely correct. The number GM threw out is meaningless since, as far as I can tell, it requires the consumer to drive in a way that is not typical.
Put it on the rollers and drive it in the typical EPA cycle and see aht you get. I suspect far less than 236 mpg or whateve silly number theyr threw out there.
billt9 says:
05:25 PM, 08/19/09
you should be able to get 230 mpg in the Volt driving normally.
The problem is that it's 230 miles of gallon of gas after driving 51 miles. But of course most of those miles you paid with your home electricity bill instead of your gas bill.
So ya you should be able to get 230 miles per gallon of gas after 51 miles no problem. Screw those oil companies. They're so greedy. Long live electricity companies!
zoomzoomn says:
05:18 AM, 08/20/09
I like Bill Ford. Say what you will, but he is the one that helped steer Ford clear of absolute disaster. He did so way before anyone even acknowledged that the domestic auto industry could ever end up the way it has.