Just a few days after unveiling the 2012 Ford Focus Electric at the 2011 Consumer Electrics Show in Las Vegas, Ford has expanded its green fleet for 2012/13 with yet another plug in vehicle: The C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid

From the specifications and the way Ford is talking about its new vehicles, one thing is clear: Ford has both the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2011 Nissan LEAF in its sights.  

Revealed to a packed audience earlier at the 2011 Detroit auto show, the five seat multi-activity vehicle is the new generation of an already popular European Ford Vehicle. 

With the same integrated MyFord Touch interface found in the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, the 2012 Ford C-MAX Energi will allow owners to plan off-peak charging, remotely heat or cool their car and even unlock the vehicle remotely. 

The C-MAX Energi will recharge overnight on a standard 110V Convenience Charging Chord, as well as faster 240V charging using compatible Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, such as Ford’s recently announced Home Charging Station

Ford claims its C-MAX Energi will have better fuel economy that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt as well as a higher all-electric range. Just like the 2012 Ford Focus Electric announced on Friday, Ford hasn’t yet released electric only range-per-charge figures, but has said that it will achieve more than 500 miles of range on a combined tank of gasoline and fully-charged battery. 

It has also been engineered to comply with California’s AT-PZEV regulations, meaning owners will be eligible to drive the C-MAX Energi in High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes even if there’s only one person on-board. 

Alongside conventional gasoline engined C-MAX models, the C-MAX will also be available as a non plug-in hybrid, the C-MAX Hybrid. Ford claims its fuel efficiency will beat that of its current best-selling hybrid, the Ford Fusion Hybrid. 

Ford now has four new electrified vehicles scheduled for production: The all-electric 2011 Ford Connect EV commercial vehicle, the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, the 2012 Ford C-MAX Hybrid and the 2012 Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. 

2012 Ford Focus Electric

2012 Ford Focus Electric

Ford’s other Detroit Autoshow offering, the Ford Vertrek Concept, shows that the company is seeking to revolutionize the eco-car market in the same way it revolutionized the automobile over 100 years ago. 

Chevrolet and Nissan take note: Ford has just turned up to the party and it isn’t leaving alone. 

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[Ford Motor Co.]