Ford has strategically joined forces with global auto supplier Magna International to produce new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that don’t use a drop of fuel. The partnership between Ford and Magna, located out of Ontario, Canada, was announced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, as Ford unveiled its global vehicle electrification strategy. “The BEV passenger car developed jointly with Magna is slated to reach customers by 2011, and is one piece of Ford’s strategy to bring BEVs, a plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles to market by 2012. Ford’s director of Sustainable Mobility Technology, Nancy Gioia, stated, “Magna is a world-class automotive supplier that’s an ideal partner for our BEV,” says. “Developing these new technologies requires a major investment, so it’s especially important to have strong supplier alliances.” Gioia explained that Ford’s global vehicle platforms provide an ideal stage for Magna-engineered BEV components and systems. Ford’s customer insight – especially its experience with hybrid electric vehicles and specialized electric vehicles – dovetails with Magna’s system-development expertise to deliver a world-class product. Magna will provide the BEV electric traction motor, transmission, motor controller, energy storage system, battery charger and related systems. Magna will also share in the engineering responsibility to integrate the electric propulsion system and other new systems into the vehicle platform architecture.” Ford really seems to know how to pick friends. BEVs are really going to change the playing field. I can only hope that someday, in a not so distant future, that EVs are the only cars we’ll be driving. Hopefully, with the mapping of the electrical grid that Ford and GE are trying converge on, and the production of the BEVs, we will soon reach a new heights for our Go Green movement.
