Join the conversation and ask your questions live with Ford’s Advanced Engine Design and Development Manager, Brett Hinds. This exclusive live chat focuses on one of Ford’s latest technologies –EcoBoost, the newest and most advanced engine technology in Ford’s lineup.

The EcoBoost family of four and six-cylinder engines use turbocharging and direct injection technology to help Ford vehicles deliver up to 20% better fuel economy, while simultaneously cutting CO2 emissions by 15 percent.

To check out the chat live, tomorrow, on August 21st at 10:30 a.m.

Quotes

“Engines are interesting machines,” said Hinds. “They produce a lot of performance and give the car personality and character. They’re complex. I’m inspired to continually make them better and more efficient.”
–Brett Hinds, Advance Engine Design and Development Manager

“We’re actually helping the Earth,” added Hinds. “Our customers will not have to make compromises to enjoy the EcoBoost engine. Customers do not have to sacrifice performance for fuel economy, and that helps the environment, the nation and the consumer.”
–Brett Hinds, Advance Engine Design and Development Manager

Ford was honored with a ‘Green Choice Award’ by Natural Health Magazine for its continuous efforts toward eco-friendly alternatives

Ford Motor Company recognizes the importance of working jointly with environmental stakeholders to engineer sustainable vehicles in an eco-friendly manner. Its commitment to a greener future is demonstrated on a daily basis with numerous ongoing environmental initiatives.

On Tuesday, May 6, Ford Motor Company was recognized with the esteemed ‘Green Choice Award’ by Natural Health magazine. Ford received this award for its continuous efforts towards building a greener future. The company and its products were judged in a number of different areas such as alternative energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, recycling, operational energy footprints, and LEED certifications. All data collected by Natural Health magazine was submitted by Ford.

The following are some highlights of Ford’s ongoing environmental initiatives:

• Each year, Ford conserves up to 900 tons of carbon emissions and 600,000 gallons of water because Escape Hybrid seats are made with 100 per cent post-industrial recycled fabric.
• Since 2000, Ford has cut its global energy use by nearly one third, in part by upgrading plants with more efficient equipment.
• Ford gives employees two paid days off a year to do volunteer work—in 2008, they committed a total of 124,000 hours. At 17 of the company’s facilities, staffers have turned vacant plots of land into habitats for local plants and animals, and created walking trails to encourage nearby residents to visit.
• Ford’s EcoBoost engine, which the company launched this year, improves vehicle fuel economy by as much as 20 per cent.

The ‘Green Choice Award’ was presented to Ford, along with nine other corporations, by renowned actor and environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. in New York City. Accepting the award on behalf of Ford was David Berdish, Manager of Sustainable Business Development.

QUOTES:

“Ford is making a difference by creating fuel efficient technology that everyone can use.” – Alan Mulally, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company

“Ford facilities are often faced with complex environmental challenges, and every year – even in hard times – our employees rise to the challenge with innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact while promoting sustainability. The Green Choice Award honors their achievements, and challenges others to take bold steps.” – David Berdish, Manager, Ford Sustainable Business Development

Direct fuel injection is one of the key enabling technologies behind Ford’s EcoBoost™.

Paired with turbocharging, direct injection gives the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in the Lincoln MKS the power and torque of a 4.6-liter V-8 with the fuel economy of a V-6. The direct injection technology helps Ford’s EcoBoost deliver advancements of up to 20 percent better fuel economy.

As well, EcoBoost is more Earth-friendly, as it helps reduce CO2 emissions. Direct injection uses high-pressure fuel injectors to spray a fine mist of fuel directly into each cylinder. This precisely controlled fuel delivery improves the engine’s transient response and enables improved emissions, particularly at cold start. The EcoBoost engine cuts CO2 emissions by 15 percent.

Unlike port-fuel-injection (PFI) engines that spray fuel in the intake system, the direct injection system puts the fuel exactly where it needs to be for combustion, making it easier to ignite and burn completely, allowing for improved fuel efficiency. Much like a fine-mist atomizer bottle one might use to keep cool in the summer, the mist generated by the direct injection uses its cool to chill engine intake air, which, in addition to improving fuel economy, also reduces the potential for engine knock.

Quotes

“Direct injection is a significant player in Ford’s strategy to replace larger engines with smaller EcoBoost engines, improving fuel economy by up to 20 percent without sacrificing performance. We’re going to be deploying direct injection to bring a wave of EcoBoost engines into Ford Motor Company products. It starts with the Lincoln MKS and by 2013 more than 90 percent of our North American lineup will offer EcoBoost technology.”
- Brett Hinds, EcoBoost Design Manager

“Cool air is good for an engine because it minimizes the engine knocking phenomenon. Anything you can use to cool the air is good. Injecting the fuel into the cylinder, you cool it on the spot, where you’re going to burn it. Fuel vaporization during the intake stroke cools the air, improving the volumetric efficiency, the breathing of the engine and the knocking tendency.”
- Corey Weaver, EcoBoost Project Leader