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Ford
Hybrids
Ford hybrids have already arrived in a showroom near you. That's
no surprise since Ford has placed a high value on hybrid technology.
The Ford hybrids that are currently available for purchase are
the Ford Escape
Hybrid SUV, which was named the North American Truck
of the Year and the Mercury
Mariner Hybrid SUV, which has been endorsed by the
Sierra Club.
The Escape Hybrid is a smaller SUV, which
boasts a Duratec 2.3L 4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine,
matched up with a 70KW (equivalent to 94hp) permanent electric
motor. There is also a 330-volt battery pack (located under
the cargo floor). The Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV shares the
same hybrid power-train as the Escape Hybrid but is a little
more upscale in its interior design and set of standard features
such as a perimeter alarm system and tire pressure monitoring.
The other three Ford hybrids that will hit the showrooms within
the next couple of years are the Ford
Fusion Hybrid Car, Mercury Milan Hybrid Car and Mazda
Tribute Hybrid SUV. Ford knows that hybrids are its
future and by 2010 half of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineups
will be hybrids.
According to former CEO, Bill Ford "From this point forward,
innovation will be the compass by which the company sets its
direction. Today, I am renewing the promise of Ford Motor Company
- to again be first in delivering innovative products to our
customers - stylish in design, safer for families, first in
technology that uses new fuels and offers new services to consumers."
Besides hybrids, Ford is also committed to just going green
as well. The 2006 Ford F-150 Truck offers flexible fuel
technology running on both gasoline and ethanol. The next
year, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln
Town Car also will offer the flexible fuel option. The Ford
Focus is rated as a partial zero emission vehicle (PZEV)
by the EPA, exceeding the strictest of emissions standards.
In addition, Ford has also fitted a Focus with hydrogen
fuel cell technology as Ford continues to go down the path
of having a hydrogen car or vehicle in everyone's garage
by 2015.
The first hybrid car to roll out in Ford's lineup will
be the Fusion, slated to hit the showrooms in 2007 for the
2008 selling season. The current year 2006 Fusion is rated
as a PZEV, so you can see how Ford has decided to go down
the path to greener and greener vehicles. First, the PZEVs
roll out, then the Ford hybrids and finally the hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles hit the market. The 2008 Fusion will
share the same hybrid power-train as the 2008 Mercury Milan
when it rolls out a little later in the same year.
The Mazda Tribute Hybrid SUV will be
going into production in 2007 and hit the showrooms late this
same year or in 2008. Since Ford owns 33-percent of Mazda it
is likely the Tribute will share many features of the Ford Escape
Hybrid including the hybrid power-train.
Ford may be a little late to the hybrid game compared to
its Japanese automaker counterparts, but it is definitely
coming on strong with commitment and dedication to less
dependence of foreign oil and a cleaner and greener environment.
And this is a game in which everyone will benefit.
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