GE To Add Ford Plug-In Hybrids To Fleet Of Volts, Other Electric Cars

By Antony Ingram

1,349 views Nov 21, 2012

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2013 Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid

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General Electric is adding a large fleet of 2013 Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids to its growing fleet of plug-in and electric vehicles.

The 2,000 Energi models will join GE's existing fleet of Chevrolet Volts and other plug-ins.

The deal is Ford's largest delivery of plug-in vehicles so far. For GE, it now means that 10 percent of its fleet, or around 5,000 vehicles, is now made up of alternative-fuel vehicles.

That goes some way to reaching GE's initiative to convert half of its global fleet to alternative fuel vehicles, a scheme which it dubs "ecomagination".

Ford's C-Max Energi is currently America's most fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid, with a 108 MPGe city rating according to the EPA. Range is quoted at 620 miles on a single tank, ideal for some of the company's long-distance operatives. GE's fleet of Volts is also fairly efficient, with an EPA combined rating of 94 MPGe on electricity, and 37 mpg combined on gasoline.

Mike Vachon from GE explains the company's motives, saying "At GE, we are focused on providing our customers and our fleet with more economically and environmentally efficient vehicles. The Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid is a great addition to our expanding fleet of alternative fuel vehicles."

Ford, along with researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology, will monitor the GE employees' usage of the Energi cars to better understand how people use plug-in vehicles.

In return for the C-Max deal, Ford will be promoting GE's WattStation charging station, and the company's 'CNG in a Box' natural gas fueling station with its commercial buyers.

Want more info on the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi? You can read our first drive report here.

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