Ford Electric vehicles

2019: A smart algorithm for search of the profitable locations of points of fast charging

On April 11, 2019 the Ford company offered the concept of use of Big Data helping to find the most profitable locations of points of fast charging as the thought of transition to completely electric transport causes concern in many people and the companies, connected with what at the right time will not be to a charging station near.

Specialists of the company in work with data developed the algorithm based on the data collected in the course of more than 1 million km of a run including places of the actual stop of vehicles. With its help points which drivers could turn on in the usual routes were defined, but not go specially on charging points which are not on the way.

Having conducted an in-depth study in London, the command concluded that it is possible to increase considerably availability of charging on the road if to locate a small amount of stations fast zaryadkiv strategically important places.

"An opportunity to attract, analyze and use huge information volumes, received from the existing vehicles, can increase considerably convenience of movement on the cities of the future. We aim to give to the smart world smart transport – including electric vehicles which will make small and big cities is more net and more silent. But we want to use also data for increase in investment soundness in infrastructure, neobkhodimy to support this approach". John Scott, head proyektafordcitydatasolutionsv Ford Mobility

For preparation complex dokladafordcitydatasolutions, published in December, 2018, the Ford company equipped 160 vans connected to network with devices for collecting of the routing information. Data were collected with the consent of participants. The general duration was 15 thousand machine-days, more than 500 million units of data were collected. These data were sent to a cloud for the analysis. On the basis of these data collected in eight months, the international command determined by a research of data and analytics (Global Data Insight and Analytics) of Ford company where it would be most useful to create charging points. Though the studied cars were not electric, the carried-out analysis allowed to provide as they work and to predict their capability to reach charging points if they would move on electric traction.

Knowing where went and on what period cars stopped, the command defined how it is possible to include visit of charging stations in daily routes. This opportunity is especially important for those companies which drivers do frequent stops, for example, for cargo delivery. According to Ford, such approach can be extended to other cities, and using data from transport of the city connected to network will be able to plan budgeted expenses for infrastructure more effectively.

Also the Ford company carried out the similar tests connected with the previous research of vehicle fleet in London including 20 Transit Custom vans of connected hybrid (PHEV) of type. During studying of data the Ford company found out that cars worked in completely electric mode on the route of 35% of time, in Greater London 45%, and in the center – 68% of time.

However during the research – and it is 80 thousand km of a run – use of public charging points was not noticed. Cars were loaded or at bus stations, or at home. Besides, drivers began the working day on average with 45% of a charge that emphasizes importance of charging on a route. Also it was established that operators increased the skill of effective charging, first of all in vehicle fleets over time.

Stations of fast charging can provide up to 80% of battery power in 30-40 minutes. According to Ford for April, 2019 in Europe more than one million electric vehicles, are also expected that by 2040 they will make the most part of sales in primary market and a third of all world vehicle fleet. But there is already a concern in connection with a lack of charging points, noted in Ford.

"Electrification changes a method of driving and refueling our transport. We understand that time of charging and action which for this purpose need to be done in case of the electric vehicle strongly differ from traditional filling with gasoline or diesel fuel which can take only five minutes. Revealing arrangement for these additional points of charging, we tried to consider the standard sequences of the movement and the parking that process of recharge could be seamlessly integrated into a usual daily routine of drivers". John Scott, head proyektafordcitydatasolutionsv Ford Mobility

2017

In Europe will create large-scale network of charging stations for electric vehicles

BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group, including Audi and Porsche, announced on November 3, 2017 creation of Ionity joint venture which will be engaged in development and construction of network of high-power charging stations for electric vehicles across the whole Europe. In total construction about 400 stations of superfast charging by 2020 is planned that will make travel on electric vehicles on a long distance comfortable. Read more here.

Ford electrifies all the models by 2030

On September 26 the 18th annual Sustainability report of Ford company was submitted contains the plan of implementation of new technologies up to 2030. In particular, in the document published since 2000 the plan of electrification of a product line providing release of the electric crossover with a course stock on accumulators about 480 km in 2020 and mass production of cars with an electric actuator and engines on alternative fuel types since 2030 is stated.

"We know that climate change is a reality which poses critical threat to mankind, and we will continue to work with leaders over ambitious plans for decrease in global emissions of greenhouse gases worldwide, – the executive chairman of the company Bill Ford told. – At the same time, we have an opportunity to make a contribution to preserving of the environment thanks to the fact that we enter the new world – the world of intellectual cars and the intellectual environment, car-sharing, multimodal movement, share taxis with a call through the application".

Ford invests 4.5 billion dollars in the program of electrification of a lineup that will allow to produce in the next 5 years 13 new models with an electric actuator. They will turn on hybrid versions of the F-150 pickup and the Mustang sports car, the recharged hybrid Ford Transit Custom PHEV van, two hybrid models for police, the autonomous car with the hybrid drive for use as the taxi or in services of car-sharing (2021). It is planned that by 2020 over 40% of all Ford models will receive versions with an electric actuator. Same year production of completely electric compact crossover whose range of a run on one charge of batteries will be about 480 km will begin.

In particular, Ford invests 700 million dollars in production of electric and autonomous cars on the production site in Flet Roque (highway Michigan). There in 2020 the release of the new electric crossover, and in 2021 – the autonomous car for ridesharing and car-sharing will begin. Besides, Ford unrolls the program of development of batteries in Europe and Asia.

To facilitate acceptance by the market of accumulator electric vehicles of a mass segment, Ford also signed the Memorandum of understanding with BMW Group, Daimler AG, Volkswagen Group, Audi and Porsche which provides creation of network of stations of fast charging in Europe. It will allow owners of accumulator electric vehicles to travel on a long distance. Initial plans are provided by creation of 400 stations with power up to 350 kW, further similar projects will be implemented worldwide. Besides, developments in the field of management systems for corporate parks of electric vehicles, planning of routes and telemetry and also technologies of wireless charging are conducted.

The analysis of opinions of 33,000 owners of the electric vehicles Ford helps the company to understand better scenarios of use of such transport and also perspective of electric vehicles and "hybrids". Polls show that among owners of the electrified cars loyalty level to an electric actuator is already very high: 87% of owners of "hybrids" are ready to purchase them repeatedly, 92% owning the accumulator electric transport say that completely electric car will become their following purchase again.

Experience of Ford in the field of electrification of cars contains nearly 20 years, the company is engaged in development as motor transport with hybrid gasoline electric actuator (Hybrid Electric Vehicle, HEV), and electric vehicles with a power supply only from batteries (Battery Electric Vehicle, BEV). By the end of 2016 the general sales of the electrified Ford cars reached 560,000, the company won first place in the USA on sales of hybrid cars and the second – in a segment of electric vehicles.

Plans of Ford company concerning implementation of new technologies

Short-term outlook (2020)

Policy/mobility

• Initiation of a discussion about decrease in emissions of greenhouse gases between representatives of different sectors of economy
• Participation in dialogs with technical and power authorities about final standards concerning harmful emissions by cars

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)

• Further improvement of petrol engines (including EcoBoost®) for the purpose of increase in profitability and performance
• Innovations in diesel technologies
• The innovations allowing to observe the becoming tougher standards of emissions

Alternative fuel types

• Expansion of a line of the cars capable to use alternative fuel types

Energy management, architecture and efficiency of electric vehicles

• Additional improvement in aerodynamics

Transmissions and transmissions

• Universal implementation of automatic transmission with the number of transfers 8 and above

Weight reduction

• Programs for considerable weight reduction thanks to traditional and innovation materials

Electrification

• Electrification of manual transmissions
• Universal system implementation of Start-Stop
• The hybrid and recharged hybrid versions at more than 25% of models
• Emergence of the recharged hybrid versions capable to pass over 48 km on one charging
• An output of the accumulator car capable to pass about 480 km on one charging

Fuel elements

• Development of technologies of fuel elements of the second generation

Medium term (2025)

Programs of weight reduction and intensive electrification of a product line

Policy/mobility

• Implementation of technologies of off-line control by the car
• Implementation of the innovative technologies in a segment of commercial cars
• Implementation of Smart Mobility technologies ("smart mobility")

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)

• Optimization of the petrol engines (including EcoBoost®) which are used in hybrid power units and also using alternative fuel types and gasoline with the improved properties
• Further development of diesel technologies for the purpose of increase in efficiency and availability in key segments of car market

Alternative fuel types

• Development of the diesel and petrol engines capable to use low-carbon/renewable types of fuel

Energy management, architecture and efficiency of electric vehicles

• Development of technologies of intellectual energy management, for example, the systems of recuperation of the disseminated heat

Transmissions and transmissions

• Further improvement of the electrified transmissions and transmissions

Weight reduction

• Continuation weight reduction of cars thanks to the innovation materials

Electrification

• Implementation of more effective DVS used only in the systems of the hybrid drive

Expansion of application electric technologies in power units and transmissions

• The hybrid and recharged hybrid versions at more than 50% of models
• Mass production of accumulator electric vehicles (BEV)

Fuel elements

• Development of available solutions on the basis of fuel elements for mass production

Long-term outlook (2030)

Mass production of cars with an electric actuator and engines on alternative fuel types

Policy/mobility

• The further progress in environmental friendliness and sustainable development reached by integration of technologies of vehicles, use of low-carbon/renewable types of fuel and the solutions Smart Mobility
• Participation in cross-industry projects on decrease in emissions of greenhouse gases

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)

• Further optimization of DVS technologies for application on cars with an electric/hybrid actuator
• Search and implementation of the advanced technologies compatible to low-carbon/renewable types of fuel

Alternative fuel types

• Further development of technologies according to progress in area of low-carbon/renewable types of fuel

Transmissions and transmissions

• Expansion of functionality of transmissions and transmissions for application in electric vehicles of the next generation

Decrease in weight

• Use of the facilitated materials in models on global platforms

Electrification

• Technologies of hybrids, the recharged hybrids and accumulator electric vehicles of the next generation (easier, more compactly, more well, the improved functionality)
• Implementation of completely electric versions for all models of a product line

Fuel elements

• Transition to fuel elements will be performed in process of development of infrastructure for this type of cars.

Production of electric vehicles in China in 2018

Production of electric vehicles is going to start Ford in China in 2018. In the statement of the company it is noted that after approval of regulators it is going to organize the joint venture (JV) with local car maker Anhui Zotye Automobile Co. Will release electric vehicles not under the Ford trademark, and "for sale within a local brand"^[1].

Mondeo Energi hybrid will become the first electric car which rolled off the Chinese production line of the Detroit company. By 2025 the company plans that 70% of the machines released by it in China will be electric vehicles. It is expected that by this time the Chinese consumers will annually buy 6 million such cars.

Ford in China already have two joint ventures created with national carmakers Changan Automobile Co. and Jiangling Motors Corp. Under laws of the People's Republic of China, foreign car makers are obliged to create the joint venture for local production of machines. The rate for the imported cars makes 25%. So the imported machines intended for the market of mass consumption are less competitive, than made in the country.

The aim which is pursued by the authorities of China, inducing car makers to assemble electric vehicles, – universal use of electric cars in the country. Last year Beijing introduced preliminary rules according to which since 2018 car makers will be obliged to release a certain number of electric cars (a certain share from their total release of machines). And if only two joint ventures, then the company which is going to specialize in assembly of electric cars, gets permission to creation of three allow foreign car makers to create the Chinese authorities.

Electric vehicles

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