Tag Archives: PHEV

Ford Is Bringing The Escape PHEV And E-Transit To Australia

Ford Australia has announced that it will introduce at least five new electrified vehicles by the end of 2024 in the local market. The E-Transit will be the first EV that Ford launches Down Under when it arrives in mid-2022.

The car manufacturer hasn’t named all the electrified models that it will bring to Australia, other than confirming that the Escape PHEV will be the first to launch, just before the E-Transit hits the market.

As Ford Australia grows its electrified footprint, it will collaborate with JET Charge to ready its dealer network with charging infrastructure. It will also install charging stations at its facilities in Campbellfield, its YouYangs Proving Ground, and the logistics hub at Merrfield.

Read More: 2022 Ford E-Transit Starts At $43,295 When Order Open This Summer

While Australia’s adoption of electrified vehicles is behind many other nations, a recent study conducted by YouGov indicated that 58 per cent of businesses can see EVs become a part of their fleets in the future. In addition, 52 per cent of Australian consumers said they are likely to consider an electrified vehicle for their next vehicle purchase.

“We know that many businesses are looking to make the switch to electrified vehicles, and that’s backed up by increasing interest from consumers and growing support from government,” Ford Australia policy director Elly Haug said. “We’re committed to helping our fleet customers meet the expectations of their customers – and that includes taking real action on climate change. Offering a sustainable transport option with E-Transit will help businesses on their road to net zero.”

In Australia, the Ford E-Transit will launch with a 68 kWh battery pack that provides it with 317 km of range on the combined WLTP cycle. The vehicle’s rear-mounted electric motor also produces 198 kW (265 hp) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. The E-Transit’s battery can be charged from 15 per cent to 80 per cent in 34 minutes when plugged into a 115 kW DC fast-charger.

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VW ID.3 Was Europe’s Best-Selling EV In October, Renault Zoe And Hyundai Kona Followed

With the petrol and diesel ban knocking on the door of the automotive industry, customers have become more interested in electrified cars than ever.

Europeans, for one, bought more electrified vehicles than diesels for the second month in a row, and the continent’s best-selling battery-electric model was the Volkswagen ID.3.

According to Jato’s analysis, the German electric hatchback accounted for 10,475 units in October, followed by the Renault Zoe supermini and Hyundai Kona small crossover, with 9,778 and 5,261 units respectively. The chart was completed by the Kia e-Niro, Peugeot e-208, Smart ForTwo, BMW i3, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa-e, MINI Cooper SE and Nissan Leaf, in this order.

Watch Also: 2021 VW ID.3 First Drive Finds It Has A Lot Going For It, But Also Has Its Faults

The plug-in hybrid king was the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (4,209 units), with the Volvo XC40 and Volkswagen Passat completing the podium, and the BMW 3-Series, Audi Q5, VW Golf, Renault Captur, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo XC60 and Mercedes-Benz GLC following.

In the mild-hybrid and full-hybrid category, Toyota nabbed the two top spots, with the Yaris (13,338 units) and Corolla (9,728), while the bronze medal went to the Fiat Panda. The Ford Puma, Fiat 500, Toyota C-HR, RAV4, Suzuki Swift, Ford Focus, and Suzuki Ignis completed the chart.

The Golf was Europe’s best-selling car in October, accounting for 27,530 units, followed by the smaller Renault Clio and Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, with 22,588 and 21,220 units sold respectively. Other popular models were the Peugeot 208, Fiat Panda, Renault Captur, Toyota Yaris, Peugeot 2008, Skoda Octavia, and Citroen C3.

New car registrations were down by 7 percent last month in Europe, from 1.21 to 1.13 million vehicles.

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