Plans for a range of battery-powered and hybrid vehicles have been outlined by Ford to include in its intention of moving away from its dependence on pickup trucks and SUVs over the next several years. It was revealed by Ford that within ten or twelve years a significant part of their portfolio would have moved to EVs.

Furthermore, Ford will change its focus from SUVs and pickup trucks which they currently have to smaller cars.

It was Ford who came out with the first hybrid car in 2004 with the Escape hybrid, but had to move away from the hybrid a year later when it suffered financial drawbacks.

But with the increase in fuel economy standards and a consumer focus on fuel economy, Ford once more finds itself committed to hybrid production.

The US Federal government has provided ailing automakers up to $25 billion to help them adopt new fuel-saving technologies (not without some serious strings attached, of course).

Ford recently made known its short-term hybrid and EV plans that include a rival to the upcoming Chevrolet Volt.

By 2010, Ford intends to introduce a battery-powered commercial van, by 2011 it will come up with a battery-powered diminutive, and by 2012 they will have a rival to the Volt plug-in hybrid.