Tech trifecta: Ford unveils fuel cell, hybrid electric Edge, with a plug!
Click the image above for a full gallery.
When Ford unveiled their Airstream concept in Detroit, any attention to its revolutionary drivetrain was lost due to its funky styling and the debut of GM's own plug-in effort, the Volt.
Knowing that pie-in-the-sky concepts will only do so much for the development of Ford's alternative fuel line-up, the boys of the Blue Oval decided to throw the powertrain from the Airstream concept into their newest crossover, the Edge.
The Washington D.C. Auto Show (of all places) served as the stage for Ford to unveil the Edge equipped with the HySeries Drive powertrain. The system utilizes a lithium ion battery pack that initially receives power from a standard wall outlet, and once that initial charge is drained (in about 25 miles) a fuel cell system begins sending power to the batteries. Those batteries are hooked up to an electric motor, which propels the Edge up to a maximum speed of 85 MPH. Once the fuel cell begins making power, it can provide an additional range of 200 miles and, in some applications, up to 400 miles.
AutoblogGreen is hot on the case and will be bringing more technical analysis and a full driving impression in the future.
In the meantime, be sure to check out the gallery of the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive by click the image above (we dig on the two-tone paint scheme) and read Ford's press release after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Gallery: HySeries Edge
PRESS RELEASE
FORD UNVEILS WORLD'S FIRST DRIVABLE FUEL CELL HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH PLUG-IN CAPABILITY
* The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive™ is the world's first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability.
* Ford's flexible powertrain architecture enables the use of new fuel and propulsion technologies as they develop without redesigning the vehicle and its control systems.
* The HySeries Drive technology is able to operate using a fuel cell, small gasoline or diesel engine connected to an electric generator to make electricity.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 23, 2007 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today unveiled the world's first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric plug-in that combines an onboard hydrogen fuel cell generator with lithium-ion batteries to deliver more than 41 mpg with zero emissions. The vehicle is built on a flexible powertrain architecture that will enable Ford to use new fuel and propulsion technologies as they develop without redesigning the vehicle.
"This vehicle offers Ford the ultimate in flexibility in researching advanced propulsion technology," said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president of research and advanced engineering for Ford Motor Company. "We could take the fuel cell power system out and replace it with a down-sized diesel, gasoline engine or any other powertrain connected to a small electric generator to make electricity like the fuel cell does now."
The new HySeries Drive™ powertrain featured in a Ford Edge uses a real-world version of the powerplant envisioned in the Ford Airstream concept unveiled earlier this month at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The HySeries Drive powertrain delivers a combined city/highway gasoline equivalent fuel economy rating of 41 mpg. For those who drive less than 50 miles each day, the average jumps to more than 80 mpg.
"We wanted to take what was in a 'gee whiz' vehicle like the Airstream and connect it with something people are driving on the road today, something that wasn't just a futuristic concept vehicle," Schmidt said.
The plug-in hybrid is powered by a 336-volt lithium-ion battery pack at all times. The vehicle drives the first 25 miles each day on stored electricity alone, after which the fuel cell begins operating to keep the battery pack charged. This provides another 200 miles of range for a total of 225 miles with zero emissions. Individual experiences will vary widely and can stretch out the time between fill-ups to more than 400 miles: drivers with modest daily needs would need to refuel only rarely, drivers who travel less than 50 miles each day will see fuel economy well over 80 mpg, while those with long daily commutes will see somewhat lower numbers as the fuel cell must run a larger fraction of the time.
The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive can travel at speeds of up to 85 mph. An on-board charger (110/220 VAC) can refresh the battery pack when a standard home outlet is available, making the concept a true plug-in hybrid.
When the battery pack is depleted to approximately 40 percent, the hydrogen fuel cell – supplied by Ford partner Ballard – automatically turns on and begins generating electricity to recharge the batteries. Like a conventional automobile, the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive will go until it runs out of fuel – in this case via a 350-bar hydrogen tank that supplies 4.5 kg of useable hydrogen.
The HySeries Drive name is derived from the powertrain's structure: a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered series hybrid drivetrain. This highly innovative approach reduces the size, weight, cost and complexity of a conventional fuel cell system by more than 50 percent. It also promises to more than double the lifetime of the fuel cell stack.
This flexible powertrain architecture enables the use of new fuel and propulsion technologies as they develop and become available without the need to redesign the vehicle and its control systems.
Certainly, many significant technical hurdles need to be overcome before a vehicle such as the Edge with HySeries Drive can become a reality. Fuel cell vehicles remain expensive, costing millions of dollars each. And the single biggest hurdle to plug-ins remains the cost of lithium-ion batteries. Much work also needs to be done to make fuel cells more durable and to create a hydrogen infrastructure.
Hydrogen Part of a Broader Effort At Ford
Research into hydrogen, including the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive, is part of Ford's overall effort to address the challenges of climate change and energy independence. Ford is moving ahead with a range of technology solutions simultaneously, including vehicles such as the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen internal combustion engines, ethanol, clean diesel and refinements to gasoline fueled engines and advanced transmissions. Some of the technology, such as that seen in Ford's lineup of hybrid vehicles, represents near-term approaches. Other technology, including hydrogen fell cells, must be viewed as a long-term option.
Ford began working on hydrogen technology in the early 1990s. Ford's first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, released in 2001, was based on a lightweight aluminum sedan body, which also was used in the development of the company's first hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine.
The company currently has a fleet of 30 hydrogen-powered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real-world testing of fuel cell technology. The fleet has accumulated more than 300,000 miles since its inception. With this fleet on the road, a great deal of information that can be integrated into future fuel cell vehicle propulsion systems is being generated in different local environmental conditions.
Having the fleet outside the confines of Ford Motor Company also has allowed the team to gain valuable feedback on servicing vehicles in the field. As a hydrogen infrastructure is developed and implemented for the fleet at each location, lessons learned are being generated to ensure that the customer and hydrogen fueling interface is seamless and customer friendly.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dedicated Hosting 7:17AM (1/23/2007)
This looks like one of thier best creations till date, i do remember one of their giant machines which was defintely could be compared to a rock and now this has come in with new concept and styling.
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The Other Justin 8:02AM (1/23/2007)
Don't really know how it'll pan out in real world applications, pricing, or practicality, but the concept is pretty intriguing. I hope there's more to come on this front.
I wonder if this would work even better in something smaller like a Focus, or if additional space is needed for the battery packs/fuel cell requiring something like the Edge.
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ENVIROSLOB 8:34AM (1/23/2007)
WHY THE HELL ARE WE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THESE HYBRIDS WHEN BIO-DIESEL AND CLEAN DIESELS ARE NOT ONLY AVAILABLE BUT EFFICIENT AND FAR LESS EXPENSIVE. WHAT A SHAM
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Infinihertz 8:37AM (1/23/2007)
#2 I got to drive a custom Fuel Cell Focus in Dearborn with one of the engineers in the passenger seat (only for about a mile and a half). Even without the plugin and hybrid capability, about 2/3 of the trunk was no longer available, taken up by the hydrogen tank. However, that was a modified 2003 or 2004 model, so if built from the ground up it might be better. An Escape or Fusion would probably be able to fit it all in more.
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rem83 8:53AM (1/23/2007)
I don't get it, why use batteries at all? You should just plug it in and add water and it'll do the electrolysis for you. I'll be much more impressed by the first production feasible fuell cell vehicle (at least 10 years off) than these pie-in-the-sky concept cars which don't make sense. The big 2 should have just stuck with electric. At least the Chevy Volt is going in the right direction. Now adapt that drivetrain for a pickup, use a 2.8L turbo diesel or something, make it production ready, and I'll totally buy it.
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epilonious 8:55AM (1/23/2007)
Dearest enviroslob;
While biodiesel/clean-diesels are less expensive than fuel cells, they are more expensive than a gasoline engine on an Atkinson cycle (which is most likely why Toyota/Honda doesn't use diesels in their respective hybrids). Those are what I predict will find themselves nestled alongside LIon batteries in Ford's production hybrids in the, oh, 10-15 years it takes for fuel cells to become cost effective.
While gas is so cheap, it's not cost effective for more than a few enthusiasts to run their cars off of biodiesel. And should gas get very expensive, it will still be cheaper to make ethanol and flex-fuel engines. And fuel-cells will have cleaner emissions than all of 'em.
Either way, it'd be neat if Ford and GM started sneaking hybrid powerplants into more of their models and didn't make them all CUV/SUV's. While I respect a behemoth suddenly getting 23 instead of 17 MPG... my cup of tea runs more towards sedans getting 40 instead of 25.
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Jason 9:29AM (1/23/2007)
The styling on this design is great. I love the wheel treatment, and the side windows look great like that too. Mean, powerful and modern....nicely done.
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John P. 10:00AM (1/23/2007)
Very well done Ford, now if you put this tech in that Awesome Reflex you showed us last year, with over 100mpg potential, then I'll have something to dream about.
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Yaroukh 12:28PM (1/23/2007)
#9: 100mpg? why not 1000mpg or 1000000mpg?
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Steve M 1:21PM (1/23/2007)
Washington Auto Show OF ALL PLACES?!
I'd think that AutoBlog (of all sites) would know that the Washington International Auto Show moved to the end of January to become more relevant. The problem with the old show, falling as it did between Christmas and New Year's Day, was that everyone from the Federal government was away on vacation. And as AutoBlog SURELY is aware, the Federal government makes lots of regulations regarding automobiles.
So what better place to showcase things like hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles than DC?
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infinihertz 2:06PM (1/23/2007)
To add to #11, this is also hours before the State of the Union address, which will allegedly have energy as one of its key focus points. It's not a coincidence.
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8189720 2:28PM (1/23/2007)
Nothing for me is unveiled unless I walk into a showroom and see it sitting there with a "for sale" sign on the hood.
How many times automakers show this crap and it never makes it to market, or when/if it does it's so far down the road that I've forgotten completely about it and by that time there are much better technologies out there.
Booooooring. Put it in the show room by the end of next year and perhaps you'll capture my attention.
B.T.W., that one woman in the second picture looks really cold, no?
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Daniel 3:02PM (1/23/2007)
Hydrogen fueling infrastructure will not be widely available for decades. I really wish Ford would put this on the back burner and proceed with a full plug-in all electric series drive hybrid with a BIODIESEL APU. They can have one ready for sale today!!!!
This hydrogen stuff just delays the day when America can have full energy independence - they should quit messing around and just give us the BIODIESEL hybrids - not a single drop of foreign oil should cross our shores.
Let's tell the Oil Sheiks to Kiss our Butts.
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Mike 7:12PM (1/23/2007)
Any of you diesel guys see what biodiesel does in cold temps- ever try sucking concrete through a straw? On top of that we don't currently even have the diesel infra-structure to support much more than what we have now which is probably why Ford is backing out of diesel cars. Try getting decent diesel fuel in many parts of this country- MFRs recommend a minimum of 40-45 cetane, many pumps are producing 33-38. When we fix this, diesels here will make more sense.
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sam 10:01AM (1/24/2007)
We washingtonians are insulted
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The Other Justin 8:29AM (1/24/2007)
#15 What's the incentive to fix it if there isn't a need for it?
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Will 9:22AM (1/24/2007)
Looks like they slapped the back hatch on before it could make it to the paint booth. :)
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Peter 2:23PM (1/28/2007)
I agree with # 14. Hydrogen is a silly idea, all it does is store electicity with an efficiency of at best 50%. Just build plugable hybrids with regular ICE engines. As battery technology gets better, the range without liquid fuel will increase. This has the great benefit of actually being possible to do now, without building a pipline network for hydrogen throughout the US (not to mention generating the hydrogen in the first place). This type of technology that Ford is showcasing is about engineers having some fun. Enjoy looking at it, but see it for what it really is.
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Alwyn Liepe 9:25PM (2/14/2007)
Own a 2006 Escape Hybrid 4WD/rated at 29Hyway and 32 City: with Reg.gas getting 24 to 25 top all around. With a non-hybrid Honda Odyssey EXL get around 22 to 23 all around- hope the Edge will be more true on the gas mileage expected/ NOTE: Odyssey does have the ECO drop cylinder
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Alwyn Liepe 3:43PM (2/13/2007)
Own Escape Hybrid 2006 4WD-rated 29/32-get all-around 24-25-Hope Edge closer to Sticker suggested:have a Honda Odyssey 2006 EXL/gets all-around 22 to 24
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