Hybrids, Plug Ins and More - What does it mean?

Gresham Ford offers the Full Line of Green Vehicles

Gresham Ford knows that you want to be green and do the right thing but sometimes it can all be just too confusing.  With many automakers creating new technologies and each having their own name for similar products it can be difficult to compare apples to apples.  Understanding the new terms and understanding how these systems differ, as well as how Ford compares with the competition is essential to helping you to find the right car for your lifestyle.

So lets define what it all means.

What is a mild hybrid?
This is a variant of a hybrid that uses a smaller electric motor and a battery to assist a gasoline engine.  The system functions similarly to a hybrid however, the smaller battery and electric motor only assist the gasoline engine when extra energy is required.  This technology increases fuel efficiency over a standard gasoline engine but does not offer electric only propulsion.  Ford has chosen not to offer a mild hybrid but rather focus on hybrid technologies that offer some form of electric-only propulsion.  Examples of a mild hybrid include the Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Malibu and the Chevrolet Impala.

Gresham Ford Offers the Full Line of Ford Green Vehicles

What is a Plug-In Hybrid?

This type of vehicle is an efficient pairing of gasoline and electric power combined with an internal Regenerative Braking System and/or external plug-in capabilities to charge its larger, advanced lithium-ion battery.  Ford Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles have been built off advanced hybrid technology and added a chargeable lithium ion battery to propel the vehicle farther under electric-only power, gasoline power or a combination of the two.  Which means that if during the week your commute is only 5 miles you may use only electric power all week. But on the weekends you decide to drive to Seattle to visit Pike's Place Fish Market.  Then you would be on electric power for the first leg and utilize the gasoline engine only when the electric battery is depleted.  Our General Manager, Bess Wills has been driving a CMax Plug In Hybrid for at least six months at this point and has only filled up a handful of times.  This is a great way to relieve the distance anxiety experienced by all electric vehicles.  Ford Plug-In Hybrids offer enhanced fuel economy advantages over hybrids and with a chargeable battery - allowing the driver to use the vehicle much like a full-electric car, if desired.

What is a true electric vehicle?

The ultimate in terms of zero CO2 emissions, zero gasoline usage and state of the art electric technology.  The combination of electric traction motor and advanced battery technology provides impressive torque and range creating a truly useful vehicle.  The Ford Focus Electric system propels the vehicle under electric power only with zero use of gasoline and emissions; no internal combustion engine is included.  An advantage we have heard from Focus Electric vehicle customers is that their maintenance has been reduced to almost nil because there is no oil to change or gunk to build up.  Focus Electric competitors are the Nissan Leaf and Honda Fit EV.  For more information or to take your very own test drive contact a Gresham Ford Product Specialist at 503-665-0101 or 1999 East Powell Blvd in Gresham.