Ford loves ethanol
Click on the image for a gallery of high-res images of the Ford E85 Escape Hybrids.
Ford unveiled the Escape Hybrid E85 flex-fuel SUV last month at the DC Auto Show. The 85 percent ethanol-capable Escape looks like its just the start of many projected flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) models being produced Ford, which has committed to doubling its FFV line-up by 2010. This could be expanded to 50 percent of total vehicles produced by as early as 2012 if the market dictates.
Certainly the U.S. Federal Government is mandating that petrol producers ramp up biofuel output, including ethanol and biodiesel, from 4 billion gallons / 15 billion litres in 2006 to 7.5 billion gallons / 28.4 billion litres in 2012. President Bush, who wants to reduce petrol use by 20 percent over the next ten years, proposed an alternative and renewable fuel output of 35 billion gallons / 132.5 billion litres by 2017 in his recent State of the Union address.
Ford is pushing for more incentives on biofuel production as well as for plans to be drawn up for the long-term move to cellulosic ethanol production, created from crops such as switch grass and sugar cane. Ford already has a partnership with biofuel producer VeraSun Energy Corporation designed to expand E85 fuel availability along the Midwest Ethanol Corridor for drivers of flexible-fuel vehicles. Ford is also working with BP to develop a variety of sustainable mobility solutions that optimize fuel economy and powertrain performance as well as reduce carbon emissions.
"Working with BP we aim to propose solutions that are acceptable to the government as well as the oil and auto companies," said Christophe Mangin, corporate alliance manager in Ford Business and Product Strategy.
Analysis: With the U.S. Federal Government dedicated to the widespread adoption of ethanol, we can expect to see a lot more E85 FFVs on the roads over the next few years. But what we really need is a wholesale switch to cellulosic ethanol production to gain the massive efficiency increase this promises over corn-based ethanol production.
Gallery: Ford E85 Escape Hybrids
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1985 Gripen 3:13PM (2/19/2007)
As I'm sure you already know Sweden has announced an even more aggressive plan to ween themselves off fossil fuels: their Prime Minister announced a plan to be fossil fuel free by 2020 over a year ago!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_phase-out_in_Sweden
In that short time the SAAB 9-5 BioPower (can run on any concentration of ethanol and gasoline) has become the best-selling car in the country. SAAB plans to introduce a BioPower version of its popular 9-3 model this year as well.
SAAB has already announced they will bring BioPower to the U.S. very soon. But the problem remains that most of the E85 stations (don't even bother to LOOK for an E100 pump!) in the U.S. are in the midwest whereas the highest concentration of consumers are located on the coasts.
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Doug 5:08PM (2/19/2007)
So is this a Flex-fuel Hybrid vehicle, or just a FFV?
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1985 Gripen 10:50PM (2/19/2007)
Doug, are you referring to the SAAB BioPower or the Ford Escape in the post? The Ford Escape is a FFV Hybrid. The SAAB BioPower is a FFV but not a hybrid.
SAAB did introduce the world's first FFV (BioPower) Hybrid Convertible at the Stockholm Auto Show last year though.
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Bob from ALAMN 1:04PM (2/20/2007)
I think General Motors is well ahead of Ford, in terms of numbers of FFV models produced. In our neck of the woods (the E85 Capitol of North America) BP wasn't done much yet to move forward with E85. Hopefully that will change.
See what the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest has going on this website:
www.CleanAirChoice.org
Check out the E85 Price Forum and E85 station locator for MN, IA, IL, ND, SD and WI.
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