Ford provides overview of e-options at Portland auto show

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The Ford Focus Electric will be on display at the Portland International Auto Show this week.

Ford selected Portland among its 19 pilot markets for its first all-electric Ford Focus due out later this year and the car giant will be out at Portland's International Auto Show this week talking up its other options for efficient cars.

In addition to being a pilot market for the electric Focus, Portlanders will also be able to buy Ford's first plug-in hybrid, a crossover called the C-MAX Energi, sometime this fall.

The C-MAX will also come in a non-plug-in hybrid model — available everywhere in the U.S.

Amy Machesney, marketing manager for the C-MAX, was in town Tuesday to discuss Ford's range of electric and hybrid options coming out this year.

"The last survey we've done is that people are valuing fuel economy three to one over safety, style and brand loyalty when they're buying a car," Machesney said.

The C-MAX, which boasts about three-quarters of the storage space of a typical SUV, is essentially replacing the Ford Escape hybrid in the car company's line-up.

While final numbers haven't been released, Machesney promises that the C-MAX hybrid will beat the Prius V on miles-per-gallon performance.

Ford hybrid plug-ins and electric vehicles will all have the ability to charge overnight using a standard 120-volt plug. It will also sell a 240-volt charger, one that will charge a car battery in a few hours, that it will sell in partnership with Best Buy at a price point of about $1,495 including installation, Machesney said.

Ford has signed up a handful of Ford dealerships in the Portland area to handle its electric offerings later this year including Courtesy Ford and Landmark Ford. Machesney said other dealerships will be added throughout the year.

For a look at Ford's offerings, click the image above.

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