• Ford is developing Fuel Cell vehicles that use hydrogen to generate emissions-free power.
• The Ford Escape Hybrid, to be introduced in late 2003, will use a combination electric and gasoline-powered drive system that nearly doubles fuel economy in city driving compared with conventional SUVs.
• Ford is the industry leader in alternative fuel vehicles, which run on low-emissions propane or liquefied natural gas.
• Ford Motor Company is committed to improving fuel economy in its industry-leading lineup of sport utilities by 25 percent, while bringing advanced powertrain technologies to market as soon as possible, in practical, high-volume applications.

Ford was the first to announce plans for a hybrid electric-powered SUV. When the Ford Escape Hybrid goes into production in late 2003, it not only will be the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market, and the most practical hybrid vehicle ever built. The Escape Hybrid will deliver nearly 40 miles per gallon (less than 6L/100km) in city driving.

It will achieve certification under California’s Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) and Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) emissions standards. It will meet Stage IV emissions rules in Europe before they take effect in 2004.

Ford also is applying hybrid technology to fuel cell vehicles, with its new Focus Fuel Cell Vehicle. The Focus FCV is expected to achieve a 160-200 mile (250-320 kms) operating range a significant improvement on previous fuel cell vehicles, which typically achieved a maximum range of 100 miles or less. The Focus FCV's performance is comparable with that of a more conventional vehicle.

Ford also offers a full range of vehicles powered by fuels other than gasoline, including natural gas, propane, ethanol, electricity and diesel. Ford sells more of these alternative fuel vehicles than all other manufacturers combined.

Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape Hybrid is designed to provide the same acceleration and functionality as its 200-horsepower V-6 cousin, using a combination of a fuel-efficient Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor. Overall fuel economy is nearly double that of the V-6 Escape.

In traditional vehicles, energy used to accelerate the car is lost as heat when the driver applies the brakes. The Escape Hybrid is engineered to recover a substantial portion of what would otherwise be lost energy and store it temporarily for use while accelerating again. The vehicle’s advanced braking technology is the subject of 51 patent disclosures.

Core to the Escape Hybrid’s drivetrain is its hybrid transaxle. Packaged as a single unit, it houses a 65-kw permanent-magnet electric motor, a 28-kw generator, an electronic controller and a planetary gear set that directs power among the engine, electric motor, generator and the drive wheels. The vehicle can run on the gasoline engine, the electric motor or both depending on the driving situation. When the driver calls for maximum acceleration, the gasoline engine and the electric motor team in parallel, providing the performance of a powerful V-6 engine.

A 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack is located beneath the rear load floor. Since the battery is charged while braking and cruising, the Escape Hybrid does not need to be plugged-in like battery-electric vehicles.

The electric motor can be used to start the gasoline engine in less than 0.2 seconds. This allows the vehicle’s electronics to automatically shut down the engine while it is coasting or stopped, saving the fuel that would otherwise be lost while idling.