Ford is taking a different approach to electrification, presenting the eWheelDrive Project. The research vehicle is based on the facelifted Fiesta and is the result of a collaboration with the German high-tech company, Schaeffler. Two independent electric motors are used to drive the Fiesta, mounted on the two rear wheels. The continuous power of each amounts to 45 PS, while they can offer a combined for a short time up to 110 PS. The maximum torque is available from the first moment and amounts to 71.4 kgm per electric motor. The rear wheels bear significantly more weight (+45 kg each), which posed a challenge to the handling of the electric Fiesta.
Absent an internal combustion engine or an electric motor under the hood, Ford and Schaeffler used the available space to house the lithium-ion batteries.