Ford’s new C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid to launch in 2012

Ford Motor Co. announced that it will be launching a new five-passenger plug-in hybrid crossover vehicle, with a range of 500 miles in the second half of 2012.  The new vehicle, called C-MAX Energi, is Ford’s answer to General Motor’s Chevrolet Volt, Nissan’s Leaf and Toyota’s popular Prius.  The C-MAX will be available in Europe in 2013. The vehicle is operated with a lithium-ion battery charge which switches over to gasoline when the battery is low.  By 2012, Ford expects to have five new electrified vehicles on the market, including a fleet vehicle which is already available.  An additional 220 jobs will be added to plants in Michigan, U.S.A., to build these new electrified vehicles.  (June 10, 2011)