Press release
Source: Ford (USA)
DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor Company’s Blueprint for Sustainability includes the introduction of a range of global environmental technologies to provide more fuel-efficient vehicles that emit fewer greenhouse gases without compromising customer expectations for safety, interior room or performance. Since its original introduction in 2007, Ford accelerated key aspects of its sustainability strategy including a more detailed plan for vehicle electrification and other advances.
The cornerstone of Ford’s near-term plan is a new generation of smaller-displacement turbo-charged gasoline engines with advanced fuel-saving direct injection technologies. The new family of EcoBoost engines potentially provides customers with a fuel savings of between 10 to 20 percent versus a larger displacement engine, without compromising performance.
With direct injection, fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber in small, precise amounts. When this is combined with turbo charging, customers may enjoy better performance and fewer trips to the gas pump. EcoBoost is designed to deliver the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6.
Ford plans to deliver EcoBoost across the full range of its product portfolio, from small cars to large trucks and by 2013, will offer EcoBoost engines, V-6s and I-4s, on 90 percent of its North American nameplates. Within three years, Ford expects to deliver 750,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles per year in North America and 1.3 million vehicles globally.
Ford’s Electrification Strategy
Ford accelerated its aggressive strategy for delivering a suite of electric vehicles to market, including a pure battery electric (BEV) Transit Connect commercial van in 2010 and a BEV Focus in 2011, as well as a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and next-generation hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by 2012.
Ford already is working with battery suppliers, utility companies and the government to develop, test and validate electric vehicle transportation in order to speed commercialization of the technology.
Hybrid Electric Systems
Ford is in its fifth year producing the world’s most fuel-efficient SUV – the Escape Hybrid, and now has added the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in the market, the Fusion Hybrid.
Moving forward, Ford plans to deploy different levels of hybridization. In Europe, for example, Ford established in 2006 the European Hybrid Technologies Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, which will have overall responsibility for the application of hybrid systems into Volvo cars globally and ensure that Ford of Europe is able to apply core hybrid systems into its products.
Plug-in Hybrids
Ford, in collaboration with 10 utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), is in the midst of a three-year test program on the Ford Escape PHEV, designed to develop and evaluate technical approaches for integrating PHEVs into the electric grid. The utilities are collecting data on battery technology, vehicle systems, customer use and grid infrastructure. In total, Ford will provide 21 vehicles for the real-world trials to explore the commercialization of plug-in hybrids and the business models that might make them viable. Ford has announced plans to introduce a PHEV to market in 2012.
Battery Electric Vehicles: Ford will launch two pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) over the next two years, including BEV Transit Connect in 2010 and BEV Focus in 2011. BEV Transit Connect, which Ford is developing with Smith Electric U.S., is expected to have a range of up to 100 miles with reduced operation and maintenance costs, making it a useful hauler for commercial and government fleet customers. The BEV Focus, which Ford will produce in collaboration with strategic supplier Magna at the Michigan Assembly Plant, will use a common household current to provide a full charge within eight hours for a targeted range of 100 miles.
Bio-Fuels
Ford will continue to deliver products capable of running on renewable fuels such as bio-diesel and E-85 ethanol. Ford has more than five million flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) on the roads today globally. In the U.S., Ford has pledged to make half of its production capable of running on alternative fuels by 2012, provided the necessary fuel and infrastructure are in place.
Clean Diesels
Ford’s sustainability plan calls for adding more diesel engines to more products in more markets. In Europe, the Ford ECOnetic range of ultra-low CO2 vehicles offers an attractive and affordable alternative to customers who prioritize low emissions performance from their cars.
The latest introduction to the ECOnetic range is the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic. Powered by a specially-calibrated version of the 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, combined with coated Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF), the Fiesta ECOnetic is the vehicle with lowest CO2 emission in both its segment and Ford’s European range.
The Fiesta ECOnetic completes a trilogy of production models in the company’s European vehicle range that also includes a Focus ECOnetic returning and a Mondeo ECOnetic. In addition to the successful passenger car ECOnetic variants of Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, Ford recently presented the Ford Transit ECOnetic as the first commercial vehicle of its ECOnetic range, which will be available later in 2009 across Europe. The ECOnetic line is an important part of the Ford of Europe’s product portfolio with further variants and improvements to come.
Hydrogen Power
Ford remains committed to its core research on hydrogen fuel cell technology, which holds promise as a longer term solution. Ford’s global fleet of 30 hydrogen-powered Focus fuel cell vehicles has accumulated more than 1 million miles in real world testing. While hydrogen holds promise, challenges related to the technology’s high cost and the lack of fueling station infrastructure remain.
Source: Ford (USA)
DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor Company’s Blueprint for Sustainability includes the introduction of a range of global environmental technologies to provide more fuel-efficient vehicles that emit fewer greenhouse gases without compromising customer expectations for safety, interior room or performance. Since its original introduction in 2007, Ford accelerated key aspects of its sustainability strategy including a more detailed plan for vehicle electrification and other advances.
The cornerstone of Ford’s near-term plan is a new generation of smaller-displacement turbo-charged gasoline engines with advanced fuel-saving direct injection technologies. The new family of EcoBoost engines potentially provides customers with a fuel savings of between 10 to 20 percent versus a larger displacement engine, without compromising performance.
With direct injection, fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber in small, precise amounts. When this is combined with turbo charging, customers may enjoy better performance and fewer trips to the gas pump. EcoBoost is designed to deliver the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6.
Ford plans to deliver EcoBoost across the full range of its product portfolio, from small cars to large trucks and by 2013, will offer EcoBoost engines, V-6s and I-4s, on 90 percent of its North American nameplates. Within three years, Ford expects to deliver 750,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles per year in North America and 1.3 million vehicles globally.
Ford’s Electrification Strategy
Ford accelerated its aggressive strategy for delivering a suite of electric vehicles to market, including a pure battery electric (BEV) Transit Connect commercial van in 2010 and a BEV Focus in 2011, as well as a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and next-generation hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by 2012.
Ford already is working with battery suppliers, utility companies and the government to develop, test and validate electric vehicle transportation in order to speed commercialization of the technology.
Hybrid Electric Systems
Ford is in its fifth year producing the world’s most fuel-efficient SUV – the Escape Hybrid, and now has added the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in the market, the Fusion Hybrid.
Moving forward, Ford plans to deploy different levels of hybridization. In Europe, for example, Ford established in 2006 the European Hybrid Technologies Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, which will have overall responsibility for the application of hybrid systems into Volvo cars globally and ensure that Ford of Europe is able to apply core hybrid systems into its products.
Plug-in Hybrids
Ford, in collaboration with 10 utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), is in the midst of a three-year test program on the Ford Escape PHEV, designed to develop and evaluate technical approaches for integrating PHEVs into the electric grid. The utilities are collecting data on battery technology, vehicle systems, customer use and grid infrastructure. In total, Ford will provide 21 vehicles for the real-world trials to explore the commercialization of plug-in hybrids and the business models that might make them viable. Ford has announced plans to introduce a PHEV to market in 2012.
Battery Electric Vehicles: Ford will launch two pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) over the next two years, including BEV Transit Connect in 2010 and BEV Focus in 2011. BEV Transit Connect, which Ford is developing with Smith Electric U.S., is expected to have a range of up to 100 miles with reduced operation and maintenance costs, making it a useful hauler for commercial and government fleet customers. The BEV Focus, which Ford will produce in collaboration with strategic supplier Magna at the Michigan Assembly Plant, will use a common household current to provide a full charge within eight hours for a targeted range of 100 miles.
Bio-Fuels
Ford will continue to deliver products capable of running on renewable fuels such as bio-diesel and E-85 ethanol. Ford has more than five million flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) on the roads today globally. In the U.S., Ford has pledged to make half of its production capable of running on alternative fuels by 2012, provided the necessary fuel and infrastructure are in place.
Clean Diesels
Ford’s sustainability plan calls for adding more diesel engines to more products in more markets. In Europe, the Ford ECOnetic range of ultra-low CO2 vehicles offers an attractive and affordable alternative to customers who prioritize low emissions performance from their cars.
The latest introduction to the ECOnetic range is the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic. Powered by a specially-calibrated version of the 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, combined with coated Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF), the Fiesta ECOnetic is the vehicle with lowest CO2 emission in both its segment and Ford’s European range.
The Fiesta ECOnetic completes a trilogy of production models in the company’s European vehicle range that also includes a Focus ECOnetic returning and a Mondeo ECOnetic. In addition to the successful passenger car ECOnetic variants of Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, Ford recently presented the Ford Transit ECOnetic as the first commercial vehicle of its ECOnetic range, which will be available later in 2009 across Europe. The ECOnetic line is an important part of the Ford of Europe’s product portfolio with further variants and improvements to come.
Hydrogen Power
Ford remains committed to its core research on hydrogen fuel cell technology, which holds promise as a longer term solution. Ford’s global fleet of 30 hydrogen-powered Focus fuel cell vehicles has accumulated more than 1 million miles in real world testing. While hydrogen holds promise, challenges related to the technology’s high cost and the lack of fueling station infrastructure remain.