Michigan Assembly will be home to the all-new global Ford Focus, which has started production and goes on sale early next year. The Focus Electric zero-emission battery electric vehicle goes into production late next year followed by production of a new hybrid and a plug-in hybrid in 2012.

“We’ve modernized just about every square foot of this facility to establish a new standard for a high-tech, green, flexible and efficient auto factory,” said Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president of North America Manufacturing. “The transformation of Michigan Assembly Plant stands as a symbol for the transformation of Ford.”

On the outside, a new 500-kilowatt solar panel system will be installed to help generate renewal energy for production of Ford’s all-new Focus and Focus Electric cars. Ten new electric vehicle charging stations on the property will be used to recharge the electric trucks that transport parts between adjacent facilities.

Inside, new cars making the three-mile trip down the assembly line must pass dozens of rigorous quality inspections. A new three-wet paint booth utilizes 66 paint robots with seven axis of movement to precisely apply paint to the cars. In the body shop, 500 new robots capable of 4,000 welds per vehicle add to the plant’s flexibility. And a new internal communications system flashes updates and information to the plant’s 3,200 employees via 163 monitor screens distributed throughout the plant.

Flexible: Trends move fast
Bright, modern and green – like the car it is building – the refurbished Michigan Assembly Plant is the company’s new benchmark for flexible manufacturing. At 1.2 million square feet – about the size of 22 football fields – the plant becomes Ford’s most flexible, high-volume and modern manufacturing facility in its global operations.  Ford will continue to evolve its manufacturing flexibility as the company’s facilities are rapidly being transformed into more nimble, flexible, and technologically advanced operations.

The changes at the plant will allow the company to run multiple models down the same production line without requiring considerable downtime for changeover of tooling. Two different models of the Focus can be adjusted between builds without restrictions.

“If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that customer wants and needs can change quickly – much more quickly than we have been equipped to efficiently respond to in the past,” said Tetreault. “At Michigan Assembly, we will achieve a level of flexibility we don’t have in any other plant around the world, which will allow us to meet shifting consumer preferences in real time.”

Renewable: Power from the sun
Michigan Assembly also will boast Michigan’s largest solar power generation system and several electric vehicle charging stations for greener, more sustainable manufacturing when installation is completed next year.

Ford is teaming with Detroit Edison and Xtreme Power to install the 500-kilowatt solar photovoltaic panel system. The system will be integrated with a 750-kilowatt energy storage facility that can store 2 million watt-hours of energy using batteries – enough to power 100 average Michigan homes for a year. A secondary, smaller solar energy system will be added at a later date to power lighting systems at Michigan Assembly. The combined systems are expected to result in projected energy cost savings of about $160,000 per year.

Quality: At every turn
To ensure best-in-class quality for the all-new Focus, vehicles on the line will endure rigorous examinations. Workers will perform hundreds of comprehensive quality tests and checks to ensure every bolt, seam and joint has been thoroughly inspected before continuing down the line.

“We are leveraging our people, processes and products to consistently build cars that will surpass the competition,” said Tetreault. “This plant embodies everything we as a company strive to become – modern, efficient, flexible, global and sustainable.”

Contributing to Focus’ best-in-class quality and Michigan Assembly’s transformation:

• Virtual manufacturing technology to improve ergonomics for easier, safer work
• Redesigned water soak testing booth to ensure zero water entry for long-term durability
• Highly efficient and environmentally friendly painting process
• Best-in-class squeak and rattle track that shakes and rolls vehicles for noises
• New energy-efficient illumination lighting for better vehicle inspections
• Moving platforms with real-time height adjustments for better operator ergonomics
• Vision-guided automation for better installation, fit-and-finish of doors, decks and hoods
• New robotic paint spray booths for more consistent and environmentally friendly application
• Electric tools capable of precisely measuring torque and the number of rotations required to secure bolts, screws and other attachments

Adding to the physical transformation of the plant, Ford and the United Auto Workers have developed a framework to establish a strong, progressive culture that encourages joint problem solving and continuous improvement of the production process.

“This plant is an inspirational example of how a modern manufacturing facility should look and work,” said Tetreault. “It’s bright, high-tech and efficient, while also being environmentally and ergonomically friendly.”

Source: Ford Press Release

“New plug-in vehicle technologies from ZAP, together with Jonway’s cost effective manufacturing in China, will accelerate the implementation of our Green Project with Yangpu. This truly bridges the best aspects of both the US and China, leveraging the strengths of the technological innovation in the Bay Area and Yangpu”

The partnership agreement with Yangpu government is a direct result of Governor Schwarzenegger’s trade delegation to Shanghai in September this year, sponsored by the Bay Area Council, and is one of the first formal initiatives between the two regions.

Party Secretary Chen Yin attended the signing ceremony in San Francisco on November 19, 2010. At the ceremony, Party Secretary Chen said that improving air quality, “green” urban mobility and development of clean energy infrastructure are some of the key initiatives of Yangpu in the next few years. He indicated that this agreement shows the beginning of growing ties between two of the world’s leading technology innovation centers, Yangpu and the Bay Area, especially in the development of clean technology. Within the 24 square mile district of Yangpu there are 14 universities surrounding the Knowledge Innovation Center (KIC), a technology community that includes Fudan University and Tongji University, making this area one of the leading research centers in China on Clean Tech.

“New plug-in vehicle technologies from ZAP, together with Jonway’s cost effective manufacturing in China, will accelerate the implementation of our Green Project with Yangpu. This truly bridges the best aspects of both the US and China, leveraging the strengths of the technological innovation in the Bay Area and Yangpu,” said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.

According to the framework of the partnership, ZAP will provide an electric car charging infrastructure, battery swap out stations, as well as EV maintenance and repair depots in Yangpu. ZAP will work with Yangpu’s government agencies, local universities, and private corporations on plans to further expand zero-emission transportation in the city.

“We have just started the initial planning of this long term project. The hard work of implementation and operations is ahead of us. We believe that the project planning and resourcing will be a yearlong process. We are pleased to be part of Yangpu’s Green Project and share Party Secretary Chen Yin’s vision and commitment to delivering his objectives,” says ZAP Chairman Dr. Priscilla Lu.

To execute these plans and better access the Chinese market, ZAP Jonway will open its EV sales and operations office in the Yangpu District and plans to establish its research and development engineering center in the district to take advantage of the university communities.

About ZAP

Based in Santa Rosa, ZAP has been a pioneer in the electric vehicle industry since 1994, engaging in the design, development, commercialization and distribution of 100% pure electric vehicles and power systems, and delivering a wide range of vehicle designs to consumers and fleet customers in the United States and international markets for sixteen years. The company supplies electric trucks and vans to military, government and corporate fleets and offers personal transportation products including electric motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and some of the only electric city-speed vehicles in production today. ZAP is also developing a freeway capable electric vehicle called the ZAP Alias that was a finalist in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE.

About Jonway

Jonway is the trade name of Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd., an automobile manufacturer based in Taizhou, Zhejiang, China that currently produces several thousand units per year of two SUV models, the A380 3-door and the A380 5-door. Built in 2009, Jonway’s modern 3.6 million square foot factory on 141 acres is ISO9000 certified and has the capacity to produce up to 30,000 units per year. It employs over 800 workers and distributes its vehicles in China through 80 factory direct dealers and hundreds of factory authorized dealers. Jonway Auto is a subsidiary of Jonway Group, which has been a leader in the manufacturing of motorcycles, ATVs and related products for more than 20 years.

The report was unveiled at Universal Studios Hollywood where Back to the Future’s electric car was first introduced 25 years ago.

“It’s a bright, clean new world when automakers, electric utilities, infrastructure providers, regulators, public health organizations and others join hands to support a new transportation plan for California,” said Diane Wittenberg, Executive Director and Chairman of the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative. “We’re determined to pave the way for healthier, cleaner and cheaper transportation options for the 21st century.”

The new plan, “Taking Charge: Establishing California Leadership in the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Marketplace,” was developed by an uncommon alliance and offers 30 suggested actions to build a successful electrified transportation system in California.

Key recommendations from the plan include:

• Simplify the process to get home charging stations installed quickly
• Develop solutions to enable charging at apartments and condos
• Structure electricity prices to encourage off-peak charging
• Increase consumer demand through education and awareness programs
• Develop new service industries to make charging a car easier than fueling at a gas station
• Encourage tech-based solutions (e.g. smart phone apps) to help drivers find existing public charging stations
• Ensure local governments help establish the strategic placement of a public charging network
• A full list can be found at www.pevcollaborative.org/strategic-pla

“We aim to address all the questions. It must be simple, simple, simple for consumers to choose plug-in electric vehicles,” added Wittenberg.

This plan will serve as a roadmap for developing a specific course of action. The Collaborative will support ongoing work and start up new efforts to address the 10 major recommendations in the report.

The California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative endorses a systematic, customer-focused approach to creatively overcome challenges in this new California marketplace where consumers enthusiastically adopt clean, cutting-edge technologies. Go to www.pevcollaborative.org for more information.

Members include:

Diane Wittenberg, California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative; Robert Babik, General Motors; Aram Benyamin, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Janice Berman, Pacific Gas and Electric Company; James Boyd, California Energy Commission; Elisabeth Brinton, Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Catherine Dunwoody, California Fuel Cell Partnership; Mark Duvall, Electric Power Research Institute; Anthony Eggert, California Energy Commission; Bonnie Holmes-Gen, American Lung Association in California ; Nancy Gioia, Ford Motor Company; Roland Hwang, Natural Resources Defense Council; Enid Joffe, Clean Fuel Connection, Inc.; Don Karner, ECOtality; Christine Kehoe, California State Senate; Doug Kim, Southern California Edison; Andreas Klugescheid, BMW Group; Barbara Lee, Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District; Alan Lloyd, International Council on Clean Transportation; Bonnie Lowenthal, California State Assembly; Richard Lowenthal, Coulomb Technologies; Patricia Monahan, Union of Concerned Scientists; Mary Nichols, California Air Resources Board; Diarmuid O’Connell, Tesla Motors, Inc.; Alex Padilla, California State Senate; Dan Pellissier, Office of Governor Schwarzenegger; Nancy Ryan, California Public Utilities Commission; Nancy Skinner, California State Assembly; Dan Skopec, San Diego Gas and Electric; Daniel Sperling, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis; Eileen Tutt, California Electric Transportation Coalition; V. John White, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies; Jason Wolf, Better Place; Tracy Woodard, Nissan North America, Inc.; Toshio Yoshidome, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America.

SOURCE Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative

These funds were provided under California Assembly Bill 118. “California is a national leader in fostering alternative and renewable fuel and vehicle technology. By leveraging state funds with matching dollars, California is spurring the economy with the development of medium and heavy-duty electric trucks,” said California Energy Commission Vice Chair James Boyd. “Commercialization of the Wrightspeed Digital DriveSystem will provide valuable diagnostic verification and validation to ensure that electric drive technology meets defined performance and efficiency goals. The Golden State’s investment in green technology will yield rich dividends benefiting both the economy and environment,” Boyd said.

The Digital DriveSystem is a powerful, reliable and cost-effective solution for electrifying fleet trucks. It will eliminate harmful emissions and lower total life cycle costs over conventional diesel, natural gas and other hybrid drive systems. Wrightspeed founder and CEO, Ian Wright, stated, “We are excited to accelerate development of our electric drive technology with this grant. We strongly endorse the Energy Commission’s vision of energy independence and cleaner vehicles while creating high skill, high wage jobs in California.” 

For more information, please go to www.wrightspeed.com

SOURCE Wrightspeed, Inc.

“The good news for consumers is that competition among automakers is driving progress.  Auto manufacturers are racing each other to bring fuel-efficient autos to market,” said Dave McCurdy, President & CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.  ”When it comes to determining the success of energy-efficient technologies, consumers are in the driver’s seat.  As automakers, our job is to develop and introduce vehicles that run on alternative fuels or deploy energy saving technologies.”

In the federal government’s new 2011 Fuel Economy Guide, (available at www.fueleconomy.gov) more than 160 models are listed that achieve high mileage, in excess of 30 mpg (highway).  This guide offers special online search functions for “advanced technology” vehicles that run on alternative fuels, including biofuels, compressed natural gas, clean diesel and electricity.  

In addition to new types of powertrains that operate on alternative fuels, automakers are manufacturing gasoline engines with a range of fuel-sipping technologies such as start/stop systems, cylinder deactivation and 6-speed automatic transmissions.  However, the government guide does not list all these technologies, so consumers should ask their dealer about options when seeking a new vehicle.  

The number of high-mileage vehicles on sale will continue to grow in coming months as automakers introduce new 2011 models.  As many as a dozen new conventional hybrids will be available to consumers, and several types of electric vehicles will enter the marketplace later in the year.

While the auto industry is offering more fuel-efficient technologies, consumer demand has not kept pace with the industry’s advancements.

Year-to-date (January-November 2010), overall passenger vehicle sales have increased 11 percent, while sales of hybrid gas-electric vehicles, one of the top energy-efficient technologies on sale today, have declined 7.6 percent.  

In 2009, hybrids constituted less than 3 percent of total U.S. passenger vehicle sales (or 290,000 vehicles out of 10.3 million automobiles purchased by Americans).  Industry analysts don’t expect hybrid sales to reach that level this year.

The success of automakers in selling new types of energy-efficient vehicles depends on the wide availability of alternative fuels to power them.  Clean diesel reduces CO2 and improves mileage, but it is only available at about 50 percent of service stations.  To maximize sales of these energy-efficient vehicles, clean diesel needs to be sold throughout the U.S. market.

As more autos come to market using alternative fuels and new technologies, the energy and fueling infrastructure is vital to support consumers who want to buy electric and hydrogen vehicles.  The grid will need to be adapted and extended to accommodate a large volume of electric cars, and new recharging systems must be widely available.

“Auto makers are working hard to keep the costs down on these new fuel-efficient technologies and ensure they remain affordable,” said McCurdy.  ”If the cost of new technology goes up too high or too fast, sticker shock will scare a lot of customers away.”

In June, the National Academies of Science (NAS) issued a report stating that “New technologies can result in significant fuel savings for passenger vehicles, but at higher purchase prices for consumers.”  

According to NAS estimates, “adopting the full combination of improved technologies in medium and large cars and pickup trucks with spark-ignition engines could reduce fuel consumption by 29 percent at an additional cost of $2,200 to the consumer.  Replacing spark-ignition engines with diesel engines and components would yield fuel savings of about 37 percent at an added cost of approximately $5,900 per vehicle, and replacing spark-ignition engines with hybrid engines and components would reduce fuel consumption by 43 percent at an increase of $6,000 per vehicle.”

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 12 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota ,Volkswagen and Volvo. Visit www.autoalliance.org for more information.

SOURCE Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

Chalouhi, a 31-year-old entrepreneur is the founder of Fanhattan, a venture-backed stealth start-up in the connected TV space, where he serves as chief technology officer. He currently lives in Redwood City, Calif., with his wife, Jana, and their two children and holds a master’s degree in computer science from the French Aeronautical and Space School. Before purchasing his Nissan LEAF, Chalouhi commuted to work on an electric bicycle.

“Electricity is the new fuel for cars, and the Nissan LEAF has the potential to transform the automotive industry and the way people drive,” said Carlos Tavares, Chairman, Nissan Americas. “Starting today, drivers have the freedom to choose a future that produces zero tailpipe emissions, moves away from our dependence on fossil fuels, and represents the end of trips to the gas station. This Nissan LEAF delivery is the first of thousands and signifies the dawn of a movement that brings sustainable mobility to within our grasp.”

The San Francisco Bay Area events kicked off more than a week of festivities, as Nissan delivers the first Nissan LEAF vehicles to each of its primary launch markets in Southern California, Arizona, Oregon, Seattle and Tennessee. Nissan also donated $25,000 to the World Wildlife Fund to mark the occasion.

“San Francisco is committed to make the Bay Area the top EV market in America, and the fact that San Francisco is the number one market in the nation for Nissan LEAF ownership reservations is proof we’re on our way,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “We are proud that Bay Area resident is the very first owner of a LEAF, anywhere in the world. We congratulate Olivier Chalouhi and the thousands of other Bay Area residents who soon will be driving electric cars, leading the way to climate friendly transportation.”

In all of these first markets, Nissan has formed partnerships with local, regional and state governments along with utilities to foster the development of electric vehicle-friendly policies and an EV-charging infrastructure. Sonoma County, the home of North Bay Nissan, marks among the first of such partnership agreements. The delivery of these first Nissan LEAFs also marks a milestone for The EV Project, a research and charging infrastructure deployment project funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The first Nissan LEAF owners in San Diego and Arizona are participants in The EV Project, the largest EV infrastructure deployment project ever undertaken. AeroVironment Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAV) is working with Nissan to supply and install home charging docks for Nissan LEAF customers, nationwide, including Chalouhi as well as first customers in Oregon, Seattle and Tennessee.

The initial Nissan LEAF deliveries will be followed by a second shipment of Nissan LEAF electric cars scheduled to arrive on Dec. 20 and destined for consumer driveways in time for the holidays. Nissan is on track for a nationwide launch of the Nissan LEAF by 2012, with Hawaii and Texas next to roll out in early 2011. In order to fulfill interest and meet demand in initial launch markets, Nissan plans to reopen reservations in the first half of 2011 as well as shift timing of additional markets until the second half of 2011.

In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.  Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

SOURCE Nissan North America Inc.

Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Ltd (MREVPL)  announced that it is aiming to sell as many as 2,500 units of its electric cars in India next year. In the current fiscal year , it targets to cross the sales figure of 1200 units in the country, as per a statement given by company’s General Manager (Marketing) Pawan Sachdeva to reporters.

The company will commence commercial production of Reva at its newly established Bangalore Plant by April 2011. The new plant will take the total annual production capacity of the company to more than 30,000 units from existing capacity of 14,000 to 18,000 per year.

At present, MREVPL is the only electric car maker in the Indian market. The company also exports its electric cars to several European countries such as the UK, Norway, Spain and France.   Mahindra-Reva is currently working on the development of a new four seater model of its electric cars and plans to launch it in the country by year 2012.

Several local jurisdictions in India have offered incentives on the purchase of the electric cars. The company hopes to get the similar tax incentives from other local government for its electric cars.

The MREVPL came into existence after India’s largest utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra acquired a majority stake of over 55 percent in the Bangalore based electric car company Reva, in May 2010. The Maini family holds a 31 percent stake in this new company while  the co-founder Lon Bell, holds an 11% stake in it.

The all-electric commercial vans, built on the Ford Transit Connect vehicle body, equipped with Azure Dynamics’ patented Force Drive^™ battery electric powertrain, and assembled by AM General at its facility in Livonia, Mich., are reaching the market 13 months after the collaboration to develop the zero-emission vehicle was first announced.

To date, all initial units have designated customers. Azure Dynamics’ LEAD customer program includes seven companies that are taking delivery of their first units in 2010, with the remainder of their orders to be filled in 2011. Customers that have been previously announced include AT&T, Southern California Edison, Xcel Energy, Johnson Controls Inc., New York Power Authority, Canada Post and Toronto Atmospheric Fund EV300. Additional LEAD customers will be identified by the end of the year.

Ford first announced the collaboration in October 2009, with an agreement for Azure Dynamics to upfit the Transit Connect van with Azure’s Force Drive battery electric drivetrain technology including Johnson Controls-Saft’s advanced lithium-ion battery, and a commitment to deliver the initial vehicles by the end of 2010 to the North American market. Initial production began in the fourth quarter of 2010 with full production of the Transit Connect Electric slated to ramp up in April 2011.

“Supplier collaboration is important on all Ford product programs, but it was especially key in this effort, which went from contract signing to vehicle production in 13 months,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford director, Electrification Programs and Engineering. “A strong teamwork environment established by Azure and Ford was critical to delivering this vehicle.”

“The Transit Connect Electric program is a great representation of our product development approach,” said Scott Harrison, CEO, Azure Dynamics. “We have been able to focus on integration of our Force Drive powertrain solution and benefit from Ford’s expertise in building ground-up global vehicle platforms. Meanwhile, capital costs are kept in check by contracting AM General for labor and assembly services – an area where the company excels. Transit Connect Electric is a revolutionary technology and achieving our aggressive time line is a testament to the professionalism and spirit of cooperation among all the project partners.”

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation provided incentive funding for Azure Dynamics to encourage selection of a Michigan-based partner for final assembly. Azure chose AM General LLC, to produce the Transit Connect Electric in its facility in Livonia, Mich.

AM General, a long-established contract vehicle assembler and services provider, is responsible for final upfit of the Transit Connect Electric.  

Transit Connect Electric is the first product in Ford’s accelerated electrified vehicle plan, and will be followed by the Focus Electric passenger car in 2011, along with a plug-in hybrid electric and two next-generation lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid vehicles in 2012.

Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator program

In addition to delivery of units to LEAD customers in North America, the Transit Connect Electric commercial van is headed to the United Kingdom, where 14 of the vehicles will take part in the government’s Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator program. The program, supported by Scottish and Southern Energy, utilizes a fleet of zero-emissions vehicles for the energy company, with designated drivers to test vehicle and infrastructure technology.

The consortium of Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy and the University of Strathclyde will provide Transit Connect Electric vehicles and a charging infrastructure in and around the London suburb of Hillingdon during 2010 and 2011.

Ford and Azure Dynamics already have announced they will collaborate to produce the Transit Connect Electric for the European market with first units to be delivered in 2011.

Designed with fleet users in mind

The all-electric, zero-emissions Transit Connect Electric has a driving range of up to 80 miles per full charge and is ideal for fleet owners who have well-defined routes of predictable distances and a central location for daily recharging. Delivery fleet and utility vehicle operators have begun to show a preference for smaller, more efficient vehicles, which creates an ideal time for Transit Connect Electric to come to market.  

“The Transit Connect provides a unique choice for the fleet owner who wants the convenience of a utility vehicle,” Marakby said. “The electric version takes that one step further, delivering a dependable, zero-tailpipe-emission vehicle that requires no petroleum.”

Owners will have the option of recharging Transit Connect Electric with either a standard 120-volt outlet, or preferably a 240-volt charge station, typically installed at the user’s base of operations for optimal recharging in six to eight hours. A transportable cord that works with both types of outlets will be available for convenient recharging at either voltage.

The vehicle’s charge port is located above the passenger-side rear wheel well. The onboard liquid-cooled 28-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is charged by connecting the charge port to a power outlet. Inside the vehicle, an onboard charger converts AC power from the electric grid to DC power to charge the battery pack.

Transit Connect Electric is expected to offer lower cost of operation, because charging with electricity is generally less expensive than fueling with gasoline.

When the vehicle is operating, battery power is provided to the drive motor through the electric powertrain’s motor controller. The motor controller uses throttle input from the driver to convert DC power supplied by the battery into three precisely timed signals used to drive the motor. The onboard DC/DC converter allows the vehicle’s main battery pack to charge the onboard 12-volt battery, which powers the vehicle’s various accessories, such as headlights, power steering and coolant pumps.

In Transit Connect Electric, the battery pack has been efficiently integrated without compromising interior passenger room and cargo space. The Johnson Controls-Saft battery pack is expected to last the life of the vehicle.

First in Ford’s overall electrified vehicle strategy

The electrification strategy builds on Ford’s vision for bringing affordable technology to millions. It takes advantage of rapid advancements in electrified vehicle technology – particularly lithium-ion batteries – while leveraging the scale of global vehicle platforms to bring the cost of new technology down.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com .

About Azure Dynamics

Azure Dynamics Corporation (TS X : AZD) (O T C: AZDDF) is a world leader in the development and production of hybrid electric and electric components and powertrain systems for commercial vehicles. Azure is str at egically targeting the commercial delivery vehicle and shuttle bus markets and is currently working intern at ionally with various partners and customers. The Company is committed to providing customers and partners with innov at ive, cost-efficient, and environmentally-friendly energy management solutions. For more inform at ion please visit www.azuredynamics.com .

About AM General

AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for commercial and military customers. The AM General business units also include two wholly-owned subsidiaries, General Engine Products, a diesel engine manufacturer, and General Transmission Products, an automatic transmission manufacturer. As creator and manufacturer of the famous HMMWV (HUMVEE ®) and HUMMER ® H1 andH2 vehicles, AM General has more than six decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries supported by approximately 2,500 employees at major facilities in Ind., Mich., and Ohio and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. More information can be found at www.amgeneral.com .

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

Transport for London (TfL), the local transit authority, is supporting this climate improvement goal through promotion of sustainable travel, operating vehicles more efficiently as well as using improved vehicle and fuel types.

"There are more than seventy thousand buses operating in Europe today and this announcement is a sign of the growing trend toward clean energy technology," said Michael Goldstein, Ballard’s Chief Commercial Officer. "We are pleased to further extend our long-term relationship with Transport for London and enable the reduction of CO2 emissions in that city."

For the London deployment, Ballard is providing modules to a consortium that includes transit bus supplier Wrightbus, bus operator First Group, as well as Transport for London. Three additional zero-emission buses will join five existing buses, also powered by Ballard’s FCvelocity ^® fuel cell modules and scheduled for deployment in revenue service in TfL’s fleet by the end of 2010.

All eight buses will be deployed by the end of 2011, enabling TfL to operate its central Covent Garden-Tower Gateway route entirely by means of hydrogen hybrid fuel cell buses. These buses will be served by a new central hydrogen refueling station, with fuel provided by Air Products.

Project funding is being provided as part of the European Union’s Cleaner Hydrogen in Cities (CHIC) project.

About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.