FORD MAKES PROGRESS ON SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY BY INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY, LOWERING EMISSIONS
Ford Motor Company’s Blueprint for Sustainability includes 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 2007, Ford has accelerated key aspects of its sustainability strategy to include a more detailed plan for vehicle electrification and other advances.
Responding to Climate Change
Ford recognizes climate change is a significant global challenge that must be addressed by a range of stakeholders. For the automotive industry, this includes the vehicle manufacturers, the fuel industry, governments and consumers. To do its part, Ford is pursuing multiple technological paths and collaborating with others to find new, meaningful fuel economy and emissions solutions that will be affordable for customers.
Some of the improvements to boost fuel economy outlined in the sustainability strategy are already on the road. Advances made since 2007 include:
- Doubled hybrid offerings and production with the introduction of the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, which deliver 41 mpg in city driving
- The new 2.5-liter I-4 engine in the 2010 Ford Fusion S delivers fuel economy up to 3 mpg better than the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry
- Ford Escape delivers best-in-class 28 mpg on the highway –and the Ford Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet, delivering 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway
- Ford F-150’s fuel economy has improved an average of 8 percent across the fleet and delivers an unsurpassed 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway
- Several new Ford vehicles include Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS), which can improve fuel economy up to 5 percent
Delivering the numbers
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.
In addition to EcoBoost engines – other technologies can help conserve fuel – now, and in the future. They include:
- Dual-clutch transmissions, which deliver the fuel economy of a manual with the convenience of an automatic
- Aerodynamic improvements
- Weight reductions and greater use of aluminum, magnesium and high-strength steel
- Continued development of biofuel and clean diesel engines
- Continued hydrogen power development
Ford continues on the path of sustainable mobility innovation, across segments. Here’s how:
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 vehicle (PHEV) and next-generation hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by 2012.
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.
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.
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.
Quotes
“Ford is committed to offering customers affordable, environmentally friendly technologies in vehicles they really want. We are focusing on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars – but for millions of cars, because that is how Ford can truly make a difference.” – Alan Mulally, Ford’s president and chief executive officer
“While we are implementing our near-, mid- and long-term plans, we are continuing to achieve efficiencies throughout the vehicle in areas that can quickly lead to fuel economy improvements today.” – Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development
Related Links
Ford Blueprint for Sustainability Full Update
June 23, 2009
