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Ford will build an all-electric SUV for 2020

Ford will build an all-electric SUV for 2020

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Still unnamed, the vehicle will have a 300-mile range

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Ford (STOCK)

Today, Ford announced an unexpected addition to its lineup, an all-new, fully electric SUV scheduled for in 2020. Built in Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan plant, the as-yet-unnamed vehicle would be engineered to have a range of at least 300 miles, and be sold in the US, Europe, and Asia. The company also announced hybrid versions of the Mustang and F-150 pickup.

“As more and more consumers around the world become interested in electrified vehicles, Ford is committed to being a leader [in the category],” Ford CEO Mark Fields said in a statement. The strategy reflects renewed competition with General Motors, which released the Chevy Bolt earlier this year.

Ford arrived at the 300-mile figure after studying more than 30,000 current owners of Ford electric vehicles. According to the company’s research, 88 percent of daily drives were 60 miles or less, with roughly four out of five customers charging once a day. Range anxiety has long been a concern for electric vehicles, but 300 miles would put Ford’s unnamed SUV just ahead of the competition. The Chevy Bolt claims 238 miles of range from its battery, while Tesla’s Model 3 tops out at 215 miles.

Ford is also testing wireless charging technology in the US and Europe, which could give Ford EVs a further advantage. Once deployed, the systems would allow for automatic charging once a vehicle is parked in a charging space, with no physical contact necessary between the charger and the car.