Posted on 01/23/2007 8:54:27 AM PST by thackney
Big hurdles include the cost: millions per car
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WASHINGTON - Ford Motor Co. is joining the list of automakers working on a plug-in hybrid — with a twist. It combines the convenience of plugging in your car with a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell.
Ford today is to display what it calls the world's first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability. Called the Flexible Series Hybrid Edge, it represents the latest offering from automakers hoping to stake a claim to the next generation of highly efficient alternative automobiles.
Gerhard Schmidt, Ford's vice president of research and advanced engineering, said the vehicle, based on the Ford Edge crossover platform, gives the company "the ultimate in flexibility in researching advanced propulsion technology."
"We could take the fuel cell power system out and replace it with a downsized diesel, gasoline engine or any other powertrain connected to a small electric generator to make electricity like the fuel cell does now," Schmidt said.
Ford was showing the plug-in fuel cell at the Washington Auto Show, where lawmakers and government officials were viewing a number of advanced vehicle technologies. The show opens for media previews on the eve of President Bush's State of the Union address, which is expected to include energy proposals of concern to the auto industry.
Several automakers have been working on similar technologies. General Motors Corp. will display the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric car recently unfurled in Detroit with a range of 40 miles on the battery and more than 600 miles with a gas engine.
DaimlerChrysler has been pursuing plug-in hybrids and said Friday it would expand its test fleet in the U.S. to more than 20 Dodge Sprinter vans. The company's chairman, Dieter Zetsche, and Chrysler Group Chief Executive Tom LaSorda were expected to discuss clean diesel technology at the auto show on Tuesday.
Volkswagen will be showing the Golf GT TSI for the first time in the United States. The vehicle's supercharged gasoline engine has 170 horsepower while garnering 40 miles per gallon in the city and 48 mpg on the highway. VW estimates the vehicle gets 638 miles on one tank of fuel.
Ford's plug-in hybrid Edge operates in battery only mode for the first 25 miles, moving at speeds of up to 85 miles per hour. When the battery is depleted to 40 percent, it shifts to the fuel-cell mode, which recharges the battery for 200 more miles of range.
The 336-volt lithium ion battery pack can be fully charged overnight — in about eight hours — with either a 110 or 220 volt outlet, and the engine produces gas mileage of about 41 miles per gallon. Drivers who travel fewer than 50 miles per day would get more than 80 miles per gallon, Ford said.
The combined plug-in-hydrogen vehicle offers a new way to address some of the challenges of hydrogen fuel cells. The pollution-free technology could provide a sustainable energy source through the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, but it faces a number of hurdles with its size, weight, cost and lack of a fueling infrastructure.
Ford reduced the fuel cell's size, weight and cost by half and said its approach would double the lifespan of the fuel cell's stack.
Mujeeb Ijaz, Ford's manager for fuel cell vehicle engineering, said the changes were "a great step to commercializing" the vehicle.
Ford has not set a date when it would be available.
The automaker said the vehicles cost millions of dollars each and commercialization remains hindered by a lack of a hydrogen infrastructure and the cost of lithium-ion batteries.
ok...45 times the horsepower...so lets take the 3.5 liter getting over 3000 mpg's and make it a 150 hp and minus the appropriate % of mpg's. What would that be? You really should watch your dark judgemental side because George Wiseman is selling alot of higher mileage systems with many happy customers. Maybe you should talk to some of those customers before you smear him.
Try dividing instead of subtracting. Now add all the requirements of a street legal vehicle including meeting the crash test and emissions requirements.
Wiseman is selling alot of higher mileage systems with many happy customers
Yeah right. He fits right in with the weight loss programs that don't involve diet and exercise. Proflification of Con Men do not make them legitimate.
In the real world of science, major claims are support with data and independent testing, not wild claims without any information leaving everyone to prove him wrong.
I think you should pray about the high mileage subject because you need some help with it. Seriously...
I think you demonstrate why there is a common expression starting with "A fool and his money..."
that's pretty funny...I guess those testimonials on the eagle research site are make believe too? I am actually getting the khaos gas saver on saturday so I will let you know how foolish, or wise I am on this. They have some pretty impressive results including test results.
I don't see that model on the Eagle Research, is it from someone else?
yes...it's at khaos.ph...it looks to be very effective for the cost. They are averaging 25% improvements with many doing 30-40%.
"Ford keeps mating this gee-whiz technology to big, heavy, inherently inefficient platforms like the Escape and the Edge. Half of what makes the Toyota Prius a successful design is that it is a very efficient shape with all sorts of low-friction, low-drag goodness."
Toyota has Hybrids for two suvs (Highlander, RX400h), Camry, Lexus G and LS series full sized sedans.
Getting enough out on the road is a part of getting acceptance. While the Prius may be the most economical, it is not widely appealing.
GM uses their part-hybrid in work trucks. Earlier Ford hybrids used Toyota licensed technology.
No domestic can match Toyota technology, in current vehicles. But you can't expect great American automakers to plan ahead, invest in the future, at the expense of next quarter's eps.
True enough. With Escape, there were legal implications to why we never saw a hybrid Focus. With the Edge hybrid, I suppose they may be rushing a bit - get the technology out the door in the newest possible platform, then work on the engineering aspects of putting it in a smaller car.
I like my Escape Hybrid, but what it essentially gives me is the roominess of an SUV with conventional car mileage. If Ford is going to make money in the hybrid market, they need to challenge the Civic hybrid and work up to the Prius.
ok...will do. I do keep good record of my mpg's so it will be accurate. Btw...the vaporizer I made in 1982 was the only change I did on the '62 plymouth fury and it went from 13 to 28 mpg's on the highway. I know you find it hard to believe but that's what Charles Pogue did but of course much more efficiently and he used hotter exhaust gases. I just duplicated a simple invention that I bought from the national car drivers association in Washington. I don't know if they still exist? But of course that won't work any longer as the gas has a higher vaporization temp nowadays, unfortunatley. I'm sure it will work using the exhaust manifold or gases though. It's just a bit much for me to do working long hours as it is and a limited income.
What vehicle will you be installing the Khaos on? What is the engine?
Yes, Hydrogen technology is just a battery replacement. Hydrogen is not an energy source for our transportation needs, only a storage method.
it's a ford festiva with a four cylinder automatic. I'm not sure the engine cc's but I consistently get 29-31 mpg's doing my courier driving everyday. So I hope to get at least 36-40 with the khaos.
You'll likely enjoy this very much:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1754825/posts
The "H Prize" gets resubmitted in Congress...
Looks like a paradigm shift in procurement is finally coming along.
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