Is FORD Taking Inspiration From The Agents? It Thinks HYBRIDS Will Beat ELECTRIC Cars - Do You Agree?

Man, this just sounds so familiar. We're not surprised that SOMEONE sort of has an idea as to what's going on these days.

It's just that "that someone" is Ford Motor Company.

In a recent story published in a financial publication, one of the company's directors of sustainability made it very clear that Ford's betting on hybrids over electric vehicles. Below, you'll find an excerpt that shows two VERY good reasons WHY Ford is riding this train.

Ultimately, Ford says it is keeping its options open going forward; however, it has hedged its bet. For example, when it produces a green product, it will be based off an existing model so it can expand and decrease production alongside the ebbs and flows of demand.

Question is, do you AGREE this is the right move OR is Ford making a BIG mistake?

Weigh in on the comments, folks!

• They cost less. Electric-car batteries are still very expensive, something that's not likely to change for at least a few years. (Why does Tesla's sedan have better range than most other electric cars? Look at the price tag.) Hybrids need only a small battery, which together with the electric motor and other systems adds just a modest premium to the price of a purely gasoline-powered car.

• They're just like "normal" cars from a driver's perspective. Hybrids can be refueled at any gas station, just like conventional cars. They have plenty of range -- in fact, a Toyota Prius or Ford Fusion Hybrid has more range than conventional counterparts do. Contrast with electrics: Tesla's expensive rides aside, most have ranges well below 100 miles -- and "refueling" away from home involves finding a special charging station (few and far between right now) or waiting hours while the car recharges on conventional 110-volt current. That's why General Motors' (NYSE: GM  ) Chevy Volt includes an onboard generator that's powered by -- you guessed it -- gasoline.

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drell1emc - 7/17/2012 9:19:35 AM

+2 Boost

Four different classes of vehicles, they don't really compete with each other. except each manufacturer will like to sale a million or two a year
you have 1.)hybrids/ plugin hybries
you have 2.)extended range electric
you have 3.)all electric
you have 4.)fuel cell

electric can only make hybrids better, with the developement of better batteries. Your question has no foundation. if you have travel a short distance you can buy a electric, for traveling I would buy a hybrid, if I could only afford one car it would be a plugin hybrid.

vdiv - 7/17/2012 12:25:56 PM

0 Boost

<-- I could afford one car and I bought an EREV. While driving around town which is the vast majority of the time I don't use any gas. Not sure why the spies have earmuffs on or are so ideologically stubborn to understand what that means.

vdiv - 7/17/2012 12:55:13 PM

0 Boost

Ford is really lazy, conservative, or risk averse. Their statement is a rationalization/justification of their lack of leadership in this area. I am tired of hearing about their EVs soon to hit the market. Same with Honda. Put up or shut up.

The future is in EVs. Scratch that, the present is in EVs and has been for over a decade now. The sooner automakers realize that and get there the better off they will be. If a company like Tesla Motors is kicking their lazy ass butts, imagine what the auto landscape will be if they got serious about EVs.