The Blue Oval has gifted the U.S. Department of Energy a one-of-a-kind vehicle: a plug-in Escape Hybrid that can run on E85, has a 30-mile range on pure electric power at up to 40 mph, and gets 88 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. Yes, you read that correctly. But you might want to read it again.
The Escape uses a 4-cylinder engine assisted by a 10kW lithium-ion battery pack made by Johnson Controls/Saft. In pure electric mode, the battery pack runs until it is 70-percent depleted, and then the gasoline engine kicks in. The vehicle's emissions are estimated to be 60-percent less than that of a traditional gas vehicle, and that could climb all the way to 90-percent less if the car used cellulosic ethanol.
This is one of 20 vehicles that Ford is giving to government and research bodies in order to help push the growth and penetration of hybrid vehicles. Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said "There's no silver bullet solution, so we're pursuing multiple technology paths – recognizing that commercial viability is an essential component for success." And we say hear hear, well done, and it's about time...
[Source: Ford via GM Inside News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
matt @ Jun 19th 2008 7:08PM
great idea, fuel from FOOD
sam @ Jun 19th 2008 7:18PM
It is a great idea. This country has plenty of food and not all that much fuel. Do the math.
LOs @ Jun 19th 2008 7:36PM
Yeah the country has so much food in fact that corn prices are at record highs, and this is all well and good when the heartland of America is currently underwater.
Adam @ Jun 19th 2008 9:07PM
Cellulosic ethanol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulosic_ethanol
LOs @ Jun 20th 2008 12:37AM
Cellulosic Ethanol is great and all (but then again so is Hydrogen) but do you really think it's what's going to be fueling these vehicles?
Congress just passed a Farm subsidy bill that will boost Corn farmers, and you will see a spike in the production of E85 Corn-based ethanol.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 20th 2008 1:27AM
I'm for cars that can run on ethanol. Because then we can be independent from foreign oil, although at a price. I think realistically, most of these cars will run on gas.
If there are enough E85-capable cars out there, companies will continue to work on cellulosic ethanol and hopefully make it a viable option.
Joe @ Jun 20th 2008 8:40AM
Ethanol is a farce. It is not cost effective, does not extend mileage per gallon, and in fact, causes us to use MORE fuel per mile because of lower potential energy per gallon.
Additionally, it's more expensive to ship, because it can't be sent through pipelines, it needs to be shipped by truck.
Furthermore, it's a drain, not only on corn production for food, but for beer and alcohol production. Why has beer jumped so much lately? It's more expensive for beer manufacturers to obtain grains, and for American beers, which have a high corn content, especially the mass-produced lagers, ethanol is extremely bad.
Randy @ Jun 20th 2008 12:03PM
Though Ethenol is not the long term answer for the people (maybe for republicans and big business) this is a step in the right direction and is also the highest efficiency achieved with a viable array of uses 7by any major manufacturer!
Awesome Job Ford!
Joe @ Jun 20th 2008 11:06PM
What does ethanol have to do with republicans?
The E85 bill was passed through by the democrats in Congress, not the Republicans.
Why is it that any time oil goes up, the Republicans get blamed, but any time something else (supposedly "green") gets implemented, and does nothing to improve the environment and/or economy, the republicans get blamed, as well?
Aren't the Republicans those that aren't concerned with the environment, the working man, or the Porcupine Caribou? Wait...that's just what the media would like you to believe.
Ethan @ Jun 19th 2008 7:15PM
So it gets 88/50 until the battery runs out, right? How long does that take in combined mode?
What's the mileage after the plug-in boost is depleted? 40/32 or so?
DKB_SATX @ Jun 19th 2008 7:31PM
Since 50 mpg is the purported highway consumption, and it only runs battery-only up to 40 mph, it should get 50 indefinitely on the highway. I wouldn't venture to guess what it gets in battery-recharge mode in town though.
Johnny @ Jun 19th 2008 7:38PM
How do you figure a 3500 lb SUV shaped like a brick gets 50 mpg on the hwy?
arturo @ Jun 20th 2008 12:49AM
to johny. Maybe because it says in the article.
Justin @ Jun 20th 2008 8:10AM
Johnny,
Because we actually made it past 3rd grade and are capable of reading. Thanks for playing.
KeithM @ Jun 20th 2008 11:18AM
Johnny probably past 3rd grade, and probably passed some physics, math, logic, marketing, and political science classes in college. He was just wondering how, not stating it doesn't. I think he has a very qood reason to wonder how, when even the best lightweight & aerodynamic hybrids and diesels today have a hard time breaking 50 mpg on the highway and 88 mpg in the city.
zamafir @ Jun 19th 2008 7:21PM
"in order to help push the growth and penetration of hybrid vehicles"
I thought hybrid vehicles were selling fine? Though if ford really wants to push the growth and penetration they can sell this thing now below 25k, i'm sure it would compel other automakers to frantically attempt to match it. Then again, empty marketing tag lines ARE entertaining, so who am I to judge.
Torrent @ Jun 19th 2008 7:21PM
damn.
mikew @ Jun 19th 2008 7:23PM
Sell them! We can figure out where best to get the alcohol once people start taking alternative fuel serious. The best way to take it serious is to sell these types of cars. Get the ball moving.
Jason @ Jun 19th 2008 7:26PM
As nice as it sounds Ford is in the same boat as everyone else: waiting on battery technology. If they were to mass produce this exact car there is no telling how much it will cost. Batteries are expensive and heavy right now. I hope it won't be too long before some breakthroughs make it to the mainstream market that give us cheap, energy dense batteries.
kory kickul @ Jun 19th 2008 7:51PM
great idea...... hopefully the tires dont fall apart when driving..........at least the dead driver will go a long way before he pays the ultimate price.