Ford Pushes for Plug-Ins, Starts EV Team

CARS.COM — Amid plans to offer more than a dozen new hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles worldwide by 2022, Ford has reportedly formed a new team to develop electric cars.

Related: GM Announces Details for Zero-Emissions Plans

Citing an interview with Sherif Marakby, Ford's head of autonomous cars and electrification, Automotive News reports the automaker has created a new cross-functional group dubbed "Team Edison" that will research and develop fully electric cars separately from its current efforts on hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

Ford announced in January plans for 13 new electrified cars worldwide in the next five years. Among them will be hybrid versions of the F-150 pickup truck and Mustang sports car — the latter with V-8-like power, Ford promises — by 2020. Ford also plans an all-electric SUV with an expected range of "at least 300 miles" and a self-driving car in 2021 for commercial ride-hailing and ride-sharing. Ford's first hybrids will have EcoBoost turbocharged engines, the automaker said.

Ford spokesman Dan Jones told Cars.com the January announcement "still applies." Asked about Team Edison, Jones did not immediately respond.

The report comes on the heels of crosstown rival GM announcing plans for two all-new electric cars in the next year and a half, plus another 18 electric cars over the next six years.