Ford, PGE team up on electric vehicles

Ford Motor Co. and Portland General Electric Co. are teaming up to share information about vehicle charging needs, as both companies prepare for higher numbers of electric cars in the coming years.

Ford said Tuesday it plans to bring five new electric vehicles to market over the next two years, including an electric version of the Transit Connect commercial van.

"To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles it is important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary infrastructure and grid capability are ready," said Mike Tinskey, Ford manager of vehicle electrification and infrastructure, in a statement.

Ford and Portland General will share information about charging needs, with the goal of making sure the electrical grid can support the higher demand resulting from more electric cars on the road.

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Ford goes wireless

As it aims to advance its lithium-ion battery systems for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, Ford has gone wireless.

The company is leveraging the internet and wireless technology to test and refine the systems. Engineers will now collect real-time performance data from batteries in the lab and vehicles on the field using an internet server while wirelessly updating system software to manage thermal load and maximise energy capacity, power capabilities and lifecycle durability.

These methods have helped Ford to slash test-fleet downtime and double its battery lab testing capabilities.

Now system specific engineers can be informed via email whenever software update opportunities occur using an adaptive event monitoring that detects conditions of interest and collects relevant data. According to Ford, this system has already led to at least 20 major design improvements in its vehicles.

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Electric cars widely available in Canada by 2012: automakers

TORONTO — Fully electric vehicles should be widely available to Canadian consumers within two years, with offerings in the pipeline from Nissan, Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi and others, automakers say.

"I think what you're hearing across the board is that 2012 is the time when you're going to have critical mass and a huge number of (electric) products coming forward from every manufacturer," Stephen Beatty, managing director of Toyota Canada, told a conference on green vehicle technology Friday in Toronto.

"(That) becomes the big moment when you see that transformation in the auto industry in North America and electric comes on big time. It'll be very fascinating to see how the market responds to that," Beatty added.

Nissan is poised to be the first major carmaker to introduce a purely electric consumer vehicle into the Canadian market, with its Leaf set to be in showrooms here by late 2011, said Mark McDade, director of marketing at Nissan Canada.

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