News: Ford promising limited run battery EV in 2 years

[MetroMPG]

I'm sure that by the time this year's Detroit Auto Show wraps up, the list of manufacturers that have NOT announced an EV program will be smaller than those that have. (Hello, Honda? )

Ford has joined the fray, and has developed a mule based on a Focus sedan.

The NYT says Ford is aiming for a small initial sales target of 10k vehicles,

It is planning a more distinctive design for the finished product when it goes on the market in two years.

There's a short vid of a test drive (nothing earth shattering) on the NYT site:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/bu...1electric.html

[Daox]

Nice. And this only took Ford 6 months to whip up, not bad.

[MetroMPG]

Learned a bit more: apparently the car was actually whipped up by their Canadian parts supplier/engineering house, Magna International:

The Ford link-up with Magna comes after the Canadian auto parts giant took a Ford Focus and redeveloped it to run on battery power as way to showcase the breadth of its capabilities to auto makers. In addition to simple parts, Magna designs and assembles modules as well as complete vehicles under contract to car companies.

Source: reportonbusiness.com: Magna, Ford partner on battery-powered car

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

Here's a new car I had not heard of: the Ford "Project M" (based on a Focus chassis).

Ford Project M Electric Car Production Planned in 2011 | All Cars Electric

[MetroMPG]

Looks like it may be the same vehicle. "Project M" ... I wonder if that could be M as in Magna, the parts supplier that took the initiative to build the car and present it to Ford?