Ford Unveils Its Escape Flexi-Fuel Plug in Hybrid
Ford Motors has delivered its flexi-fuel plug in hybrid SUV to US Department of Energy for further testing. This vehicle is one in series of 20 Plug-in hybrids that Ford plans to develop in collaboration with Southern California Edison and the Electric Power Research Institute. This collaboration aims to develop and create new business models to advance plug in hybrid variants closer to mass production. Previously an Escape Plug-in variant was delivered to Southern California Edison that is already in road testing stage. This new flexi-fuel variant can run on both gasoline and E85 ethanol variant. When run on ethanol it can deliver 88miles/gallon in urban driving ad nearly 50miles/gallon on highway. Ford estimates hat this vehicle can reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 60% as compared to a conventional gasoline powered vehicle. Utilizing cellulosic ethanol demonstrated potential for 90% emission reduction if cellulosic ethanol is used.
Mark Fields, President of the Americas, Ford Motor Company believes that Ford can effectively employ is expertise in hybrid and flexi-fuel technology in a plug–in variant. Fields adds “We recognize commercialization of plug-ins, powered by gasoline or biofuels, may represent part of a long-term energy solution, but significant challenges remain to bringing this technology to market”. Seems that Ford plans to identify and remedy such challenges through its escape plug-in variant.
Tags: biofuel, Electric Power Research Institute, ethanol, flexi-fuel, ford motors, Hybrid, Southern California EdisonIf you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Srikant RajanThe present focus should be only on getting the hybrid on the road a….getting it fast and in huge numbers….The upgrade facility may be made availaible as soon as volume of poduction picks up and economies of scale are achieved….
[...] seem to be making some headway in its hybrid technology,it has recently begin road testing of its Escape model and also entered in an agreement for testing of other hybrid models with the US DOE and Southern [...]
Ford seems to be the only US automaker that is not planing electric cars or mutiple hybrids. I think this will hurt them because alot of people will swicth if they save money on gas. I know a hybrid suv is better but not that much better overall.
chriss last blog post..bmwz8
June 12, 2008
FORD SHOULD START MAKING ALL THEIR ESCAPE HYBRIDS UPGRADEABLE..MAKE
ROOM FOR NEWER BATTERY’S WHEN THEY ARE READY FOR SALE. IT WOULD BE
NICE TO BUYS TO DAYS FORD’S ESCAPE WITH THE IDEAS THAT NEXT YEAR THEY
WILL BECOME A PLUG IN TYPE