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FORD AND THE ENVIRONMENT

FORD AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Ford Motor Company is committed to offering customers affordable environmental technologies in the vehicles they want and value. To do this, Ford is introducing a range of global environmental technologies that provide customers with more fuel-efficient vehicles emitting fewer greenhouse gases without compromising safety, interior room or performance.

Ford is focused on solutions that reach not just hundreds or thousands of cars, but millions of vehicles – because that is how Ford can truly make a difference. Near- and longer-term advancements from Ford include EcoBoost turbocharging and direct injection technology, multi-speed transmissions, advanced electric power steering, weight reductions, aerodynamic improvements, hybrid vehicles, diesel engines, biofuel-capable vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles.

Ford's Blueprint for Sustainability

EcoBoost | Plug-In Hybrids | Hydrogen | E-85

Eco-Driving Improves Fuel Economy

Ford tests show Eco-Driving can improve fuel economy by an average of 24 percent.

Eco-driving Tips

Tests performed by Ford Motor Company show that motorists coached by eco-driving experts can significantly improve the fuel economy performance of their cars, trucks or SUVs.

Eco-driving refers to specific driving behaviors that can improve fuel economy, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote safe driving. Ford and Phoenix-based Pro Formance Group have teamed up to pilot an eco-driving program for fleet customers. The program would employ certified master trainers to deliver hands-on coaching to maximize mileage in everyday driving.

Ford’s eco-driving initiative builds on the recent launch by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, of a comprehensive nationwide effort to promote eco-driving at www.EcoDrivingUSA.com.

Proven Results
Over a four-day period, Ford and the Pro Formance drivers conducted validation tests using volunteers from Phoenix who were given individual coaching on specific driving behaviors. The Sports Car Club of America verified the results, which showed an average 24 percent improvement in fuel economy as a result of hands-on eco-driving training.

The 48 total drivers who took part in the validation tests saw results ranging from 6 percent fuel economy improvement to more than 50 percent, depending on their driving style and ability to master eco-driving behaviors. Eco-driving instructors coached drivers to employ smoother braking and accelerating, monitor their RPMs and drive at a moderate speed.

Maximizing Mileage
Among the eco-driving practices that drivers can begin practicing on their own are driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph, keeping tires properly inflated at the recommended pressure, and eliminating prolonged idling. Hands-on instruction is critical for achieving full potential of eco-driving since instructions for eco-driving techniques must be customized after instructors have had the opportunity to observe individual driving habits and then provide coaching for more fuel efficient driving techniques.

To learn more about how you can maximize your mileage, please see the accompanying list of 10 eco-driving tips.

Certified for Success
Eco-driving training was launched by Ford in Germany in the 1990s in cooperation with the German Road Safety Council. In the only industry-based drivers’ eco-training course, specially trained and certified instructors run programs for several target groups including fleet drivers and customers. Several of the master trainers recently traveled to Ford in Dearborn to teach the coaching techniques to drivers with the Pro Formance Group. They will now leverage Ford of Germany’s eco-driving expertise to develop a pilot program that would certify eco-driving instructors to train Ford’s fleet customers.

Ford is working with Pro Formance which also provides training for Ford’s Driving Skills for Life programs aimed at teen drivers. Pro Formance instructors typically come from a racing background and have an intimate knowledge of a vehicle’s mechanics and their handling dynamics. They have hundreds of hours of experience observing driving behavior and communicating how best to maximize a vehicle’s performance for fuel efficiency and safety.

See what test participants had to say about eco-driving:

Released 2008-08-27

10 Eco-Driving Tips for Everyone

Below are a few tips to help drivers conserve fuel and save money at the pump, while at the same time helping the environment and improving traffic safety.

  1. Slow down and watch speed – Drive 55 miles per hour instead of 65 to save fuel. EPA estimates a 10-15 percent improvement in fuel economy by following this tip. Also, aim for a constant speed. Pumping the accelerator sends more fuel into the engine. Using cruise control whenever possible on the highway helps maintain speeds and conserve fuel.
  2. Accelerate and brake smoothly – Accelerating smoothly from a stop and braking softly conserves fuel. Fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and hard braking wastes fuel and wears out some of the car components, such as brakes and tires, more quickly. Maintain a safe distance between vehicles and anticipate traffic conditions to allow for more time to brake and accelerate gradually.
  3. No idling – Today’s engines don’t need a warm up. Start the car immediately and gently drive away. Don’t leave your car idling. Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes fuel. Turn the engine off in non-traffic situations, such as at bank and fast food drive-up windows, when idling more than 30 seconds.
  4. Check your tires – Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended tire pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4 percent. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle’s door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure.
  5. Be kind to your vehicle – Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the Owner’s Manual for proper maintenance.
  6. Travel light – Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The added frontal area reduces aerodynamics and will hurt fuel economy, reducing it by as much as 5 percent. Remove excess weight from the vehicle. Unnecessary weight, such as unneeded items in the trunk, makes the engine work harder and consumes more fuel.
  7. Minimize use of heater and air conditioning – Use heating and air conditioning selectively to reduce the load on the engine. Decreasing your usage of the air conditioner when temperatures are above 80 degrees can help you save 10-15 percent of fuel. Use the vent setting as much as possible. Park in the shade to keep car cool and reduce the need for air conditioning.
  8. Close windows at high speeds – Don’t drive with the windows open unless your keep your speed under 50 mph. Driving with the windows open at highway speeds increases aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and lowers fuel economy.
  9. Choose the right oil – Use good quality oils with the viscosity grade recommended in the owner guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most cars and trucks to provide the best fuel economy. Only oils “certified for gasoline engines” by the American Petroleum Institute (API) with the starburst symbol should be used.
  10. Consolidate trips – Plan ahead to consolidate your trips. This will enable you to bypass congested routes, lead to less idling, fewer start-ups and less stop-and-go traffic. Whenever feasible, share a ride and/or carpool.
Released 2008-08-27

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Fuel Cell Program Extended

Ford Hydrogen Vehicles Exceeding Expectations

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric

Ford Motor Company’s fleet of 30 Focus Fuel Cell vehicles has exceeded the expectations of the company’s hydrogen research engineers by accumulating more than 865,000 real world miles without significant maintenance issues since the fleet’s launch in 2005.

Encouraged by the program’s success, Ford recently reached an agreement with program co-sponsor, the U.S. Department of Energy, to extend its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle program for up to 24 months, until the next generation system is ready for deployment in 2010.

Fleet Customers ‘Charged Up’ by Fuel Cell Cars
The Ford Focus Fuel Cell vehicles have earned accolades from Ford’s fleet partners in the U.S., Germany, Canada and Iceland. Customer surveys indicate that Ford’s fuel cell vehicles have outperformed those of other automakers in areas of acceleration, comfort (air conditioning), durability, reliability and mileage.

Next Generation in the Works
Ford researchers are developing the next generation of fuel cell technology. The team is expecting significantly increased fuel cell life, better mileage, more efficient use of platinum (a key catalyst), more power from a smaller fuel cell stack, improved reliability, and the ability to start under frozen conditions (thanks to cold climate testing in Iceland).

How Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Work
An H2 fuel cell vehicle produces electricity through an electro-chemical process in the fuel cell stack. There are zero tailpipe emissions when using this technology, with only drops of water coming from the tailpipe. Experts maintain that widespread use of H2-fueled vehicles could help eliminate CO2 emissions that contribute to global climate change.

Hydrogen Buses Serving Commuter Needs
Ford recently introduced a hydrogen shuttle bus service for military commuters between Fort Leonard Wood and Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. Additional Ford hydrogen bus users include the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, SeaWorld Orlando, the City of Las Vegas, San Mateo County Transportation Authority, Ottawa Parliament Hill, Prince Edward Island, the City of Toronto, and the City of Vancouver.

Hydrogen and Beyond
Additional Ford hydrogen projects have included the Fusion Hydrogen 999 that set a land speed record in 2007, a Fuel Cell Explorer and a Plug-in Hybrid Edge that uses a fuel cell-powered HySeries DriveTM. H2-fueled technologies are part of Ford’s long term strategy to implement a variety of alternative technologies to increase fuel efficiency and reduce CO2.

Released 2008-08-19

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Hybrids More Fuel Efficient

Escape/Mariner Hybrid Cruises on Battery Power Up to 40 mph

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

The 2009 Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrid gives drivers more electric mode driving, running on battery power up to 40 mph. That’s up from 30 mph on the previous model.

Those extra 10 slashes on the speedometer make the Hybrid a fuel-efficient urban hauler not only on low-speed residential streets, but on higher-speed arterial roads that often connect neighborhoods to the local grocery store, post office and midtown strip mall.

Hit the highway and advancements in engine processor technology make the transition from electric mode to gas nearly imperceptible. In addition, the Hybrid has a new brake system that provides a seamless shift from regenerative braking to traditional braking. A new pedal sensor gives better feedback and pedal feel similar to that of a traditional vacuum-assisted hydraulic system.

Some other tidbits about the 2009 Escape/Mariner Hybrid:

  • Ford’s new 2.5-liter I-4 engine has been adapted for the hybrids and is Ford’s first engine to use variable valve timing on an Atkinson cycle hybrid engine. The total system offers 177 hp, up 22 hp over the 2008MY 2.3-liter.
  • The 2009 Hybrid achieved a 1 mpg improvement on the highway, for 34 city/31 highway mpg.
  • Escape and Mariner Hybrid are the only small hybrid SUVs to offer standard AdvanceTrac with RSC.
Released 2008-07-28

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Blueprint for Sustainability

Ninth Annual Sustainability Report Released

Ford's Blueprint for Sustainability

Ford’s ninth sustainability report, “Blueprint for Sustainability,” is now available at www.ford.com/go/sustainability. This is Ford’s annual report on environmental and social performance, focusing on key issues for the company, with discussion and data related to a wide range of critical topics. Some of the topics covered include:

Reducing CO2 Emissions
Ford has a plan for reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2030. It includes near-, mid- and long-term product and technology actions that incorporate fuel-saving technologies into the company’s product cycle plan and continuing research on the development of breakthrough technologies. Since 2000, Ford has reduced its global operational energy use by 30 percent and CO2 emissions from its facilities by 39 percent.

In addition, Ford of Europe has launched its ECOnetic vehicle portfolio, which will achieve class-leading CO2 emissions levels.

Improving Fuel Efficiency
As gas prices climb, Ford continues to improve the fuel efficiency of its vehicles. In fact, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) of Ford cars and trucks (U.S.) improved 5.9 percent for the 2007 model year compared to the 2006 model year.

In 2007, Ford unveiled EcoBoost, an internal combustion engine technology that uses direct injection and turbo-charging technology to improve vehicle fuel economy without sacrificing performance.

Also in 2007, Ford and Southern California Edison announced a multimillion-dollar, multi-year evaluation program to advance the commercialization of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles.

Corporate Responsibility
The sustainability report describes Ford’s new “Urban Mobility Networks”, a pilot program that is exploring how to coordinate a variety of transportation options and provide vital real-time information to individuals living in densely populated urban centers. Ford and the University of Michigan, along with other private and public partners, will launch the first pilots in Chennai and Bangalore, India and Cape Town, South Africa.

Also detailed in the report, Ford’s commitment to human rights and other important responsibilities of global companies reinforced by membership in the United Nations Global Compact in April of 2008.

Released 2008-07-14

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PHOTO UPDATE

Sea World
Ford Hydrogen V-10 E450 Shuttle Bus
Sea World
Ecoboost direct injection and turbocharging.
Explorer America Concept.
Visual explanation of the EcoBoost technology.
Quality detail - Explorer America Concept.
EcoBoost intake.
Ford Escape Hybrid Plug In.
Ford Escape Hybrid Plug In.
Ford Escape Hybrid Plug In.
Ford Hybrid Escape Plug In.
The Ford Hybrid Escape Plug In.
Single sided sliding rear door on the passenger side.
Explorer America concept features EcoBoost.
Radial speedometer and tachometer.

VIDEO UPDATE

QUOTATIONS

“We continue to make great strides in reducing the environmental footprint of our manufacturing operations worldwide by improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable resources worldwide. We integrate sustainability goals into our manufacturing operations to drive progress. This effort is demonstrated by the improvements we’ve made on energy usage and water reduction.”
Sue Cischke, Group Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

“These new technologies are all about fuel economy. Particularly, here with the six-speed autos, we’re delivering a wide ratio span that provides a high top gear for fuel-efficient cruising while delivering good launch feel for lower displacement engines. This technology will mate perfectly with the new Ford EcoBoost engines that are on the way.”
Craig Renneker, Chief Engineer for New Automatic Transmissions, Ford Powertrain Operations

“EPRI brings our collaborative efforts related to the potential of plug-in electric vehicle technology to a new level. PHEVs have great promise, but still face significant obstacles to commercialization, including battery costs and charging strategies. Ultimately such vehicles must provide real value to consumers.”
Nancy Gioia, Ford Director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies

“Ford is the world’s first automaker to deliver commercial vehicles powered by internal combustion engines that are fueled exclusively with hydrogen. These buses represent part of our strategy and commitment to delivering transportation solutions that emit less CO2 and reduce our dependence on oil.” Sue Cischke, Senior Vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company

“The Cologne plant initiative is part of our broader approach to minimize the environmental effects – in particular CO2 emissions - of our vehicles during their entire life cycle”
Dr Wolfgang Schneider, Vice President, Governmental and Environmental Affairs, Ford of Europe

“Ford Motor Company is increasing fuel economy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions with affordable technologies for millions of customers…The 2009 Escape and Mariner are great examples of how we’re delivering today.”
Sue Cischke, Senior Vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company

“These new flex fuel offerings will provide a key benefit to customers who require, or desire, E-85 capability in vehicles with the functional attributes that only a full size van or large SUV can provide.”
Gerald Koss, Fleet Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company

More than ever, the Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid are the ultimate vehicles for commuters in the daily battle with urban traffic congestion. For every eight Escape and Mariner vehicles we sell, one of them is a hybrid, and the appeal is growing.”
Sue Cischke, Senior Vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company

“PHEVs are one element of our blueprint for sustainability that includes actions ranging from refinements in gasoline-fueled engines and transmissions, to the development of hydrogen fuel cells.”
Sue Cischke, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company

“We bring our expertise in energy production, delivery and management, and combine it with Ford’s expertise in hybrid technology… This is not about simply connecting the car to the grid. It’s about integrating vehicles and energy storage technologies into the energy system of the future.”
Lynda Ziegler, Senior Vice President, Customer Service, Southern California Edison

“EcoBoost puts an affordable technology within the reach of millions of customers. Ford’s systems approach adds up to a big idea that differentiates Ford’s sustainability strategy in the market.”
Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development

“Compared with the current cost of diesel and hybrid technologies, customers in North America can expect to recoup their initial investment in a 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine through fuel savings in approximately 30 months. A diesel in North America will take an average of seven and a half years, while the cost of a hybrid will take nearly 12 years to recoup - given equivalent miles driven per year and fuel costs.”
Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development

“EcoBoost is meaningful because it can be applied across a wide variety of engine types in a range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks - and it’s affordable.”
Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development

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