DENSO‘s new inline electric (e) compressor will make its global debut on Ford’s Focus Electric, which began production this past December with retail production ramping up the first half of the year. The inline e-compressor also will appear on the Fusion and C-MAX Hybrids and Energi Plug-in Hybrids, due to hit North American roads in 2012.

DENSO says the new inline e-compressor is smaller, lighter and quieter than previous generations. Despite a decrease in weight and size, it maintains the same cooling capacity as our previous generation while consuming less power, according to the company.

This means it pulls less juice from the battery and helps extend the lithium ion battery range when the air-conditioning (A/C) is running. Also, for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), the e-compressor helps make the car less reliant on the internal combustion engine on days when you flip on the A/C switch.

Not only does the inline e-compressor keep the cabin cool, but it also can cool the lithium-ion battery to help it maintain an optimal temperature, DENSO notes. This helps control the temperature of the lithium ion, which improves the battery’s range and overall longevity.