Ford is to invest an additional $4.5bn in electric vehicles by 2020, adding 13 new models to its product portfolio, the company announced last week.

 

As a result of the investment more than 40 per cent of its global models will become electrified versions by the end of the decade, the company said.

 

The new Focus Electric will be the first vehicle in the new range to be released late next year in North America and Europe. The car can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in around 30 minutes and has a projected 100 mile range, the company said.

 

The Focus Electric also has customizable displays to help drivers see real-time EV power usage, as well as a brake "coach" for drivers to maximize the energy captured during braking.

 

Ford revealed it will be increasing its focus on the customer experience rather than just the vehicle itself, with its product development process adjusted to support this shift in perspective.

 

"The challenge going forward isn’t who provides the most technology in a vehicle but who best organizes that technology in a way that most excites and delights people," said Raj Nair, executive vice president of product development at Ford, in a statement.

 

The company also said it is expanding its R&D into batteries for electric cars, in a bid to develop lighter and more durable EV batteries.

 

Kevin Layden, director of Ford electrification programmes, said batteries are the "life force" of any EV and the company will continue to focus on research and development in the area.

 

"Battery technology has evolved rapidly since we launched our first volume electrified product, the Ford Escape Hybrid, in 2004, and we look forward to developing even better vehicle battery technology for our customers," he said.

 

The company said it will concentrate work on its virtual battery testing system called Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL). Ford claims it has already developed more durable batteries that can survive extreme cold and hot temperatures – critical to ensuring the cars have a global reach.

 

Ford is the top seller of plug-in hybrid vehicles in the US, and second in total sales of electrified vehicles. It has also recently expanded its offerings to growing markets such as China, Taiwan and Korea.

 

In October, Ford announced it was a partner in a new $9m battery lab at the University of Michigan that will help the company build smaller, lighter and cheaper batteries. (businessGreen)