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Green Car Congress
Green Car Congress (www.greencarcongress.com) has great Ford Motor Company news, photos, videos and more
Tuesday, Nov 3
ROUSH Developing Two Propane-Fueled Mustang Drag Cars
The drag cars are an offshoot of the kits that ROUSH Performance uses to convert gasoline-powered Ford pickups and vans to run on propane. One advantage that propane has, especially in a drag racing application, is that it has an octane rating of 106 (premium unleaded is typically around 9...
Suzuki Alto Achieves 118 mpg US in City Driving in Australia
Using a simple combination of lightweight design, aerodynamic efficiency and a small and efficient 1.0-liter gasoline engine, the Alto managed to outrank similar size diesel cars including the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Turbo Diesel and MINI Cooper D which recorded an overall improvement...
Former GM Director Projects Flat US Auto Sales in 2010
York said that he thought GM is likely to lose a percentage point or two of market share from its shift to just four brands; that Ford Motor Co’s debt load is very manageable; but warned that he believes Italian automaker Fiat SpA has a less than 50% chance of turning around Chrysler.
Monday, Nov 2
Saft to Raise Approximately 120M to Fund Li-ion Plants in US
Johnson Controls-Saft has also recently been selected by Volkswagen to supply battery products for a fleet of electric vehicles; by Jaguar Land Rover for an HEV development that should lead to a future production program; and by Ford for an electric commercial vehicle with Azure Dynam...
Sunday, Nov 1
Ford Fiesta Econetic Diesel Offers Lower Fuel Consumption than Prius in Australian Combined Cycle Testing; Prius Still Offers Lowest CO2
However, the gasoline-fueled Prius still comes out with the lowest CO2 emissions of any car on the Australian market at 89 g/km, due to the differences in gasoline and diesel fuels. More specifically, according to the Australian government’s GreenVehicleGuide:
Report: Sanyo To Supply NiMH Batteries For Peugeot Diesel-Electric Hybrids
PSA Peugeot Citroen, a French player that aims to be the world’s first to bring a diesel-electric hybrid to market, is the fifth automaker that Sanyo is expected to supply batteries to. Sanyo supplies NiMH batteries to Honda and Ford and is expected to supply lithium ion batteries to the Vo...
Saturday, Oct 31
Ford and Smith Terminate Partnership on Electric Transit Connect Project for US; Ford Now Partnering with Azure Dynamics to Deliver the Vehicle in 2010; Smith Partnering with AM General on Electric Vans for USPS
The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect BEV will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft. Azure Dynamics develops hybrid electric and electric drive tec...
Wednesday, Oct 28
DOE Selects Tenneco for Fifth ATVM Loan; $24M for Fuel Efficient Emission Control Components
The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program is an open process designed to promote the development of fuel efficient advanced technology vehicles. First appropriated in the fall of 2008, the program provides loans to companies making cars and components in US factor...
Monday, Oct 26
Bright Automotive Launches Bright eSolutions; US Army Hybrid Vehicle Contract
The IDEA is a multi-purpose, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle aimed at commercial and government fleets. Bright eSolutions will offer clients expert guidance on a variety of strategies in the field of EV/PHEV vehicle development, from EV powertrain integration and conversions, to ae...
Hempstead Town, NYSERDA and National Grid Launch Long Islands First Hydrogen/HCNG Fuel Station
Five years ago, NYSERDA began planning for and funding a Hydrogen Roadmap initiative that included three fueling stations across the state (Hempstead, Albany International Airport and Rochester Institute of Technology). Hempstead Town is now the latest link in this roadmap. NYSERDA...
Friday, Oct 23
Vehicle Sets CNG Speed Record: 323 mph
The blown gas streamliner, designed and built by Riley Technologies, was originally designed to run on gasoline. However, Lessman wanted to do something a bit different, and converted the engine—a large-block Ford V-8, 572 cubic inch (9.37 liter), turbocharged unit—from traditional...
The Business of Plugging In: Building the Full Ecosystem for a Successful Plug-in Vehicle Industry in the US
Customers. Customers and customer reaction were also a recurrent theme at the conference. In one of the sessions, Richard Curtin, director of the Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers, released the recent survey data showing that while there is widespread consumer inter...
Friday, Oct 16
UK Studies Suggest New Business Models and Policies Required for EV and PHEV Uptake; Price a Critical Issue
AEA: Market outlook to 2022 for battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In 2008, CCC commissioned AEA to lead a consortium to compile a marginal abatement cost (MAC) curve model for transport, ranking the emissions savings opportunities according to cost effe...
Thursday, Oct 15
EPA 2010 Annual Fuel Economy Guide Now Available
For MY 2010, the Prius is the top fuel economy leader, with EPA ratings of 51/48 mpg city/highway. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid sedans come in second, at 41/36, followed by the Honda Civic Hybrid; Honda Insight; Lexus HS250h; Nissan Altima Hybrid; Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, M...
Tuesday, Oct 13
Clemson Researchers to Study Increasing Efficiency of PHEVs Through Integration with IntelliDrive Technology
The IntelliDrive taxonomy. Click to enlarge. Clemson University researchers were recently awarded a $470,363 National Science Foundation grant to study making plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) more efficient through integration with a Vehicle Infrastructure Integration...
Friday, Sep 25
Ford CEO Unveils New Figo for India Market and Export Sales, New Manufacturing Plant in China with Changan
Ford plans to introduce its EcoBoost engine technology in China next year, as well as other fuel-efficient technologies, such as our PowerShift transmission. Ford’s EcoBoost engines combine turbocharging and direct-injection technology to deliver fuel consumption and CO2 emissi...
Rasmussen Poll Finds GM, Ford, Toyota Are Top for Planned Purchases in US
Hyundai and Volkswagen generate very similar responses. Just three percent (3%) say they would definitely buy one or the other. Twenty percent (20%) would consider buying a Hyundai, and 23% say the same of VW. Thirty-four percent (34%) say no way to Hyundai, while 31% have no intention of bu...
Sunday, Sep 20
DOE Finalizes $5.9 Billion Loan for Ford Motor Company
On 23 June, DOE issued a conditional loan commitment to Ford to finance up to 80% of qualified expenditures to improve the efficiency of light vehicles by using technologies that improve internal combustion engines and transmissions, reduce vehicle weight, reduce vehicle drag with m...
Thursday, Sep 10
Automakers Issue Joint Statement in Support of Commercial Introduction of Fuel Cell Vehicles from 2015 Onward
Leading vehicle manufacturers in fuel cell technology—Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, the alliance Renault SA and Nissan Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation—issued...
Sunday, Sep 6
Ford India Plant, With $500M Investment, Prepared for Volume Production of New Global Small Car
Suzuki Motor Expansion.. Separately, the Nikkei reports that Suzuki Motor Corp. will spend around ¥30 billion (US$323 million) to build a new car factory in India by 2011, boosting its local output capacity by 30% to 1.3 million vehicles annually—a level comparable to its Japanese operati...
Ford to Premiere C-MAX at Frankfurt; First Application of 1.6L EcoBoost
Ford of Europe has released the first official images of the all-new Ford C-MAX, which will make its global debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Ford C-MAX will introduce a number of new technologies to the Ford range,... Ford of Europe has released the first official images of the all-n...
Monday, Aug 31
Ford Unveils New 6.7-L Power Stroke V-8 Turbocharged Diesel
Then when the main injection occurs, we can mitigate NVH because we have a slower ignition process. When the fuel burns, it doesn't burn with a traditional pop or bang. The direct-injection system is calibrated and phased for optimum power, fuel efficiency and NVH.
Wednesday, Aug 19
Ford Testing Intelligent System for Plug-in Vehicle to Grid Communication to Manage Charging
In 2007, Ford announced a partnership with Southern California Edison, the electric utility with the nation’s largest and most advanced electric vehicle fleet. The partnership is designed to explore ways to make plug-in hybrids more accessible to consumers, reduce petroleum-relat...
Sunday, Aug 9
Ford Exec Cites US Energy Policies As Critical Factor in Shaping Future Vehicle Fleet, Calls for Cap-and-Trade Program
To meet the demand for higher fuel efficiency, Ford will leverage and expand EcoBoost engine technology that will be available on 90% of the company’s nameplates by 2013. Other technologies such as six-speed transmissions and electric power assist steering, which yield additional fu...
Sunday, Jul 26
Ford Australia Invests A$230M in Fuel-Efficient Engines; First Global RWD Application of New 2.0L EcoBoost, LPG and Diesel
Slated for a range of global vehicles—from small cars to large trucks—EcoBoost uses turbocharged gasoline direct-injection technology to deliver improved fuel efficiency, emissions and driving performance versus larger displacement engines.
Wednesday, Jul 22
Ford Announces 2.0L EcoBoost Engine; First Production EcoBoost with TI-VCT
2010 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid2010 Ford Mustang and Shelby GT5002010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor2010 Ford Transit Connect2010 Lincoln MKT and MKT with EcoBoost2010 Lincoln MKZ2010 Lincoln MKS with EcoBoost2010 Mercury Milan...
Tuesday, Jun 30
BAF Technologies Begins Converting 600 ATT Vehicles To CNG in 2009
BAF’s CalComp system is fully integrated into the OEM powertrain control system. No additional control module is required. The entire gasoline system is removed and replaced with CNG storage tank(s), HP plumbing, a CNG regulator, and new CNG injectors. Control of all CNG components, inc...
Thursday, Jun 25
First Three Conditional Loan Commitments Under DOEs ATVM Program go to Ford Motor Company, Nissan Motors and Tesla Motors
Ford will be raising the fuel efficiency of more than a dozen models, including the Focus, Escape, Taurus and F-150, representing close to two million new vehicles annually. Ford is driving a major upgrade, leveraging a portfolio of technologies, including the direct injection, smart...
Friday, May 29
Ford Team Awarded 2009 National Inventor of the Year Award for Plasma Transferred Wire Arc Engine Coating Technology
Ford’s PTWA thermal spray coating process for aluminum engine blocks replaces heavy cast iron liners, thereby improving fuel efficiency by reducing engine weight and internal piston friction losses. Ford has 95 issued and pending patents related to the new PTWA coating technology an...
Saturday, May 23
Ford Begins EcoBoost Engine Production
The first EcoBoost engine in the family—the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine—is the first V-6 direct-injection twin-turbocharged engine produced in North America, and will debut in the 2010 Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT, Ford Taurus SHO and Ford Flex this summer. A V-6 EcoBoost engine will be a...
Thursday, May 7
Ford Investing $550M to Retool SUV Plant to Produce Focus Small Car and EV
The plant, formerly the Michigan Truck Plant and the production site for Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigators SUVs, is one of three North American light truck plants Ford is retooling to build fuel-efficient global small cars in the coming years. The new Focus will begin rolling off th...
Tuesday, May 5
US Hybrid Sales Down 45.5% in April
Monthly US sales of hybrids. Click to enlarge. Reported sales of hybrids in the US reported by Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Nissan dropped 45.5% year-on-year in April to 21,735, despite full month sales for the new Honda Insight and... Monthly US sales of hybrids. Click to enlarge.Reported sales o...
Monday, May 4
Ford Conducts Design of Experiment Investigating Thermoelectric Energy Regeneration
by Jack Rosebro Conceptual schematic of direct thermoelectric generator mounted in a vehicle’s exhaust stream. Indirect configurations are also possible. Adapted from Hussain et al. Click to enlarge. At SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit last month, Ford Motor Company... by Jack Rosebro
Friday, May 1
Developing Fords EcoBoost Combustion System
At the recent SAE 2009 World Congress, Ford engineers presented six papers detailing aspects of the EcoBoost technology, including a discussion of the development and optimization of the EcoBoost Combustion System—a key to the performance of the engine. Resources
Tuesday, Apr 28
Ford Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Mile Challenge Car Sets Record with 1,445 Miles on Single Tank of Gas; Averages 81.5 mpg
“Not only does this demonstrate the Fusion Hybrid’s fuel efficiency, it also shows that driving technique is one of the keys to maximizing its potential.”—Nancy Gioia, director, Ford Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challe...
Monday, Apr 27
Ford E85 Direct Injection Boosting Study: A Less Expensive Alternative to Diesel
The vehicle owner will realize high fuel economy because gasoline, with its greater eating value per volume, is the fuel that is primarily used for most driving modes. Furthermore, by enabling higher CR, downsizing and downspeeding, E85 DI + gasoline PFI makes the engine more efficient...
Friday, Mar 6
Ford Launches New Fiesta in China
Ford Motor Company officially launched the new Ford Fiesta into the China market on the southern resort island of Hainan. China is the world’s first market to introduce the four-door Fiesta sedan. The sedan and the five-door Fiesta hatchback are... Ford Motor Company officially launched th...
Monday, Mar 2
Ford Unveils New Battery-Electric Tourneo Connect at 2009 Geneva Show
—John Fleming, Chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe Under the hood. Click to enlarge. In the Tourneo Connect BEV Concept, a 21 kWh Lithium-Ion Phosphate battery pack powers a 50 kW permanent magnet motor, with the drive torque being transmitted to the driveshafts by a single-speed transmissi...
Monday, Feb 9
Ford Launching Transit Connect in US Starting This Summer; Battery-Electric Version Due in 2010
Battery Electric Transit Connect. At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford unveiled an accelerated plan to bring next-generation hybrid-electric (HEV); a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV); and battery-electric (BEV) veh...
Thursday, Feb 5
REV Becomes First Hymotion Dealer in Canada; Offers L5 Conversion Kit for Prius
REV, a Vancouver, Canada company that converts Ford fleet vehicles into highway capable battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (earlier post), has become the first Hymotion plug-in conversion kit dealer in Canada. It is now offering the Hymotion L5 plug-in conversion... REV, a Va...
Tuesday, Feb 3
Ford Selects Johnson Controls-Saft for PHEV Battery Supplier in 2012; Adds 7 Utilities to PHEV Test Program
The demonstration Ford Escape PHEV uses common household current (120V) for charging, with a full charge of the battery completed within six to eight hours. When driven on surface streets for the first 30 miles following a full charge, the Ford Escape PHEV can achieve up to 120 mpg—roughl...
Thursday, Jan 15
Production of Ford Fiesta Begins in China
Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company has begun production of the new Ford Fiesta—the first in a series of global cars coming from Ford—at its manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China.The Ford Fiesta shown at the North American International Auto Show. Click to enlarge.
Monday, Jan 12
Fords 3.5L Production EcoBoost Debuts in Lincoln MKS; 1.6L EcoBoost Appears in Lincoln C Concept
3.6L V-6 EcoBoost. Ford expects the 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 to attain fuel economy numbers of 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway based on preliminary testing of the all-wheel-drive 2010 Lincoln MKS. The new 3.5-liter engine is the first in a series of EcoBoost engines coming from Ford as part of a strategy...
Sunday, Jan 11
Ford Rolls Out Accelerated Plan for HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs; To Partner with Magna on BEVs, First One Due in 2011
Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford unveiled an accelerated plan to bring next-generation hybrid-electric (HEV); a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV); and battery-electric (BEV) vehicles to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years.
Saturday, Jan 10
2010 Ford Fusion S Bests Camry and Accord in Fuel Economy
The 2010 Ford Fusion. Click to enlarge. The new entry-level 2010 Ford Fusion S has been certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 34 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city—beating both the gasoline-powered Camry... The 2010 Ford Fusion. Click to enlarge.
Wednesday, Dec 31
Ford s New Active Park Assist Leverages Electric Power Assisted Steering; Nearly 90% of Ford Lineup to Have EPAS by 2012
EPAS saves fuel primarily because the steering system is powered by an electric motor connected to vehicle’s battery, as opposed to engine-mounted hydraulic pump steering systems. By 2012, Ford plans to fit nearly 90% of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup with EPAS.
Monday, Dec 22
GM Holden To Build New Small Car Alongside Commodore
The new front-wheel-drive vehicle will be built as a sedan and hatch at GM Holden’s Elizabeth manufacturing facility in South Australia. Design and engineering work will take place at the company’s headquarters in Port Melbourne, Victoria.
Friday, Dec 12
Ford, GM Engines Make Wards 2009 10 Best Engines List; GM Tops IEEE Spectrum Patent Scorecard
The entire hybrid system in both SUVs was completely developed and engineered by Ford, which holds several hundred patents on this exclusive hybrid system. The Escape and Mariner hybrids deliver fuel economy of 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
Monday, Jul 9
Ford and Edison Partner on Plug-In Hybrids
Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally and Edison International CEO John Bryson announced today that Ford is partnering with Edison subsidiary Southern California Edison in a multi-year, multimillion dollar project to, in Mulally’s words, “investigate and figure out how to commercia...
Tuesday, Apr 3
UCS Releases Biennial Ranking of Greenest Automakers; Honda Edges Out Toyota to Keep Top Spot
Hyundai-Kia, Nissan and Volkswagen were in the middle of the pack, coming in third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Ford and General Motors, meanwhile, were at the back, and DaimlerChrysler placed last, earning the Rusty Tailpipe Award for the dirtiest automaker.
