Talk about your “conversation starters.” Ford has developed an intelligent vehicle-to-grid communications and control system for its demonstration electric vehicles including plug-in hybrids that “talks” directly with the grid.

This new technology – which builds on Ford’s connectivity technology such as SYNC®, SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide and Ford Work Solutions™ – allows the vehicle operator to program when to recharge the vehicle, for how long and at what utility rate.

All 21 of Ford’s fleet of plug-in hybrid Escapes will be equipped with the vehicle-to-grid communications technology for testing and to gather real world usage data. The first of the specially equipped plug-in hybrids has been delivered to American Electric Power of Columbus, Ohio. Ford’s other utility partners’ vehicles will also be equipped with the communications technology.

The intelligent interface

When plugged in, the battery systems of these specially equipped plug-in hybrids can communicate directly through wireless networking with the electrical grid via smart meters provided by utility companies. The owner uses the vehicle’s touch screen navigation interface and Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer to choose when the vehicle should recharge, for how long and at what utility rate.

For example, a vehicle owner could choose to accept a charge only during off-peak hours between midnight and 6 a.m. when electricity rates are cheaper, or when the grid is using only renewable energy such as wind or solar power.

Real-world research

Over the past two years, Ford and its energy industry partners have logged more than 75,000 miles on the plug-in hybrid test fleet – that’s the equivalent of driving around the world at the equator three times. The plug-in hybrid research focuses on four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage and grid infrastructure.

Real-world usage and laboratory research is helping to accelerate the advancement of electrified vehicles. Ford and its research partners are now focusing on ways to make the recharging process easy and efficient for consumers. In addition to low-cost recharging at home through the use of a smart meter, Ford researchers say recharging away from home – whether at work, in a shopping mall parking lot or at a curbside station – needs to be as simple as plugging in and swiping a credit card.

Ford has previously announced it will launch 4 new electric vehicles within the next 3 years including;

• Battery electric Transit Connect small commercial van in 2010
• Battery electric Ford Focus in 2011
• Next generation hybrid in 2012
• Plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2012

QUOTES

“Electric vehicles are an important element of our strategy for improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions. This vehicle-to-grid communication technology is an important step in the journey toward the widespread commercialization of electric vehicles.”
– Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chairman

“We are designing what plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles will be capable of in the future. Direct communication between vehicles and the grid can only be accomplished through collaboration between automakers and utility companies, which Ford and its partners are demonstrating with this technology.”
– Greg Frenette, manager of Ford’s Battery Electric Vehicle Applications

“Broad commercialization of electric transportation is not something a car company can achieve on its own. Developing and producing the vehicles is just one part of the electric transportation equation. We are well on our way to delivering the vehicles, but for widespread adoption the infrastructure to support the technology needs to be in place and we need to ensure that the national electric grid can support increased electric demand.”
– Nancy Gioia, Ford director, Sustainable Mobility Technologies

“Ford’s involvement in the collaboration with EPRI and some of the nation’s leading utilities will help accelerate the pace leading to the commercialization of PHEVs. This type of joint effort between an auto manufacturer and utilities will permit a more seamless integration of electric-drive vehicles into the power grid and the transportation sector.”
– Arshad Mansoor, vice president of EPRI’s Power Delivery and Utilization Sector

Ford on Board for Fleet Electrification

Ford has been selected for two grants from the Department of Energy (DOE) under stimulus funding for the Fleet Electrification program. The program is designed to accelerate viable commercial volumes of electrified vehicles and vehicle to grid infrastructure development.

One grant, for $30 million dollars, will help fund Ford’s collaboration with utility partners across the nation – with an expansion of a vehicle demonstration and grid integration program.

In addition, Ford will receive a $62.7 million DOE grant for production of an electric-drive transaxle for its hybrid vehicles at the Ford Van Dyke transmission manufacturing facility in Sterling Heights, Mich. This grant will be matched by Ford.

Getting charged up

The DOE grants announced this week support Ford’s aggressive vehicle electrification strategy, which includes the introduction of battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and next-generation hybrids (HEV).

The vehicles include:

• Ford Transit Connect BEV small commercial van in 2010
• Ford Focus BEV passenger car in 2011
• Next-generation hybrid in 2012
• Plug-in hybrid in 2012

DOE grant funds also will support production of electric drive system components at Ford partner Magna, for the Ford Focus BEV as well as Johnson Controls, Inc. which will supply batteries for Ford’s plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2012.

Power through partnerships

Commercialization of battery electric vehicles is a critical element for improving U.S. energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions with sustainable transportation. It requires collaboration between automakers as the vehicle providers, utilities as the fuel providers and the government in support of advanced technologies for the mass market.

Ford was the first automotive manufacturer to partner with the utility industry in a shared effort to understand all of the issues related to PHEV technology and its interconnectivity with the electric grid.

Ford’s key utility partners include:

• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
• Southern California Edison
• New York Power Authority
• Consolidated Edison of New York
• American Electric Power of Columbus, Ohio
• Alabama Power of Birmingham, Ala.; and its parent, Atlanta-based Southern Company
• Progress Energy of Raleigh, N.C.
• DTE Energy of Detroit
• National Grid of Waltham, Mass.
• Pepco Holdings
• New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, a state agency

Ford also has announced key collaborations with:

• Smith Electric Vehicles, Europe’s leading battery electric commercial vehicle upfitter engaged by Ford to help bring the Transit Connect BEV, a small commercial van, to market in 2010
• Magna International, the supplier jointly developing the Ford Focus BEV passenger car for 2011
• Johnson Controls-Saft, the battery supplier for Ford’s first production PHEV coming to market in 2012

QUOTES

“Broad commercialization of electric transportation is not something a car company can achieve on its own. Producing the vehicles is not enough to create a viable market. For widespread adoption, the infrastructure to support the technology needs to be in place, we need to ensure that the national electric grid can support increased electric demand by the vehicles, and we need to ensure that electrified vehicles provide a real value for consumers.”
– Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

One of the hurdles in the race to develop automotive Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery systems for high volume hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicle programs is improving the technology’s durability.

Ford’s advanced battery researchers are working with battery suppliers, utility companies and top-tier academic researchers to develop, test and validate high-powered battery systems that are durable enough to last the lifetime of a vehicle.

More Efficient, Less Costly
According to Ford’s advanced battery researchers’ recent findings, which were presented at SAE International’s 2009 World Congress this week, Li-ion battery systems:

• Will be 5 percent more energy efficient than the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in today’s hybrid electric vehicles, and;
• Would be less costly than NiMH in large volumes – approximately 30 percent less expensive at an annual volume of 3 million hybrids

Adaptable Technology
The Li-ion battery packs that Ford will use in its hybrids and electric vehicles, are 25 to 30 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter than NiMH batteries. That makes them easier to package in a vehicle. Unlike NiMH batteries, Li-ion can be tuned to increase power to boost acceleration, or to increase energy to extend driving distance.

Ford will use Li-ion battery systems to power:

• a pure battery electric (BEV) Transit Connect commercial van in 2010
• a BEV passenger car developed jointly with Magna International by 2011
• a Plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and next-generation hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by 2012

Unique Li-ion systems are in development for each type of vehicle, because the drive cycles of BEVs, HEVs and PHEVs have different types of battery storage and usage requirements.

Challenges Remain
The Li-ion battery needed for automotive use is expected to handle a multitude of vehicle operations under extremely hot and cold conditions, making thermal and safety management much more complex than that needed for batteries in consumer electronics, such as laptops.

Testing Underway
Ford is accelerating its research, development and testing of advanced Li-ion battery technology, thanks, in part, to a $55 million tax credit incentive from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Ford has engaged researchers at the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to conduct digital simulation tests, collecting degradation data that Ford and its battery suppliers have used to improve Li-ion performance.

In addition, Ford has entered into research partnerships with eight regional electrical utility companies to conduct real-world tests on Li-ion-powered Ford Escape PHEVs.

These vehicles:

• Use a common household current (120 volts) for charging, with a full charge of the battery completed within six to eight hours
• Can achieve up to 120 mpg when driven on surface streets for the first 30 miles following a full charge
• Operate in two modes, electric drive and blended electric-engine drive
• Run as a fuel-efficient standard Ford Escape Hybrid one the charge in the battery as been depleted

QUOTES

“Ford is strongly positioned to accelerate its electric vehicle strategy this year thanks to the significant research we’ve already completed. Our collaborative work with suppliers and partners will help us be one of the first automakers to bring the next generation of personal transportation to market.” – Susan Cischke, Group Vice President, Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

“Our PHEV fleet is a direct result of our Li-ion research, and the data mined from these field tests will provide crucial information as we make advances in battery technology.” – Ted Miller, Manager, Ford Energy Storage Strategy and Research

“The efforts of Ted Miller’s team to reduce the cost and mass of Li-ion systems have been important to the research community at large. Their efforts are yielding improved Li-ion systems, and more knowledgeable workers.” – Ann Marie Sastry, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and
Director of the University of Michigan’s Energy Systems Engineering Program

The scene at Barber Motorsports Park and Museum in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday, wasn’t the sort of engine-revving, tire-smoking event one normally sees in NASCAR country. But it was arguably more “electrifying.”

The media turned out in force at the venue to test drive the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which Alabama Power and its parent Southern Company is road testing in partnership with Ford. Representatives from the Electric Power Research Institute and the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition also participated in the event, which was followed on Tuesday by a “Green Fleet” event for Alabama Power and Southern Company employees.

Electric Companies Get Plugged in with Ford
Alabama Power is one of Ford’s several utility and research partners conducting real world road testing with the Escape PHEV. The other partners include:

• Southern California Edison
• New York Power Authority
• Consolidated Edison of New York
• American Electric Power of Columbus, Ohio
• Progress Energy of Raleigh, N.C.
• DTE Energy of Detroit
• National Grid of Waltham, Mass.
• New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, a state agency

Ford was the first automotive manufacturer to partner with the utility industry in a shared effort to understand all of the issues related to PHEV technology and its interconnectivity with the electric grid.

The research into PHEVs focuses on four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage, and grid infrastructure. The utility companies also will explore the potential for stationary battery application and the value of energy storage.

The partnerships will help Ford accelerate its electrification strategy, including bringing a full battery electric vehicle (BEV) van to market in 2010 for commercial use, a small BEV sedan developed jointly with Magna International by 2011 and a PHEV by 2012.

Charging up tomorrow’s technology today
Drivers of the demonstration Ford Escape PHEV will make far fewer trips to the gas station. It uses common household current (120 volts) 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 – roughly 4.5 times its traditional gas internal combustion engine-powered counterpart.

A fully charged Ford Escape PHEV operates in two modes, electric drive and blended electric/engine drive. It is not range-limited by the amount of charge available in the high-voltage lithium-ion battery. Once the charge in the battery has been depleted, the vehicle continues to operate as a fuel-efficient, standard Ford Escape Hybrid.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) announced its annual environmental scores for 2009 model year cars and trucks this week, listing Ford Escape Hybrid and Ford Ranger on its “Greener Choices” list.

Greener Choices

According to ACEEE, “Greener Choices” are widely available gas-powered cars and light trucks with automatic transmissions. The 2009 Escape Hybrid, which earned a superior “green score” of 42, is rated for 34/31 miles per gallon in city/highway driving. The 2009 Ranger, which earned a “green score” of 33, is rated for 19/24 mpg. Both vehicles meet low emission standards.

More Top-Rated Vehicles

Additional 2009 Ford Motor Company vehicles received top ratings from ACEEE, including Mercury Mariner Hybrid, which offers the same fuel economy as the Escape Hybrid, and the Ford Ranger with a manual transmission, which gets 21/26 mpg. Top-rated “green” vehicles include cars and trucks that have high fuel economy and meet one of the stricter low-emission vehicle standards.

A Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid took part in an all-plug-in parade in Santa Monica, Calif., Saturday, as part of the nation’s presidential inaugural festivities. The parade, which was organized by non-profit group Plug In America (PIA), aimed to energize public interest in the fuel-efficient vehicles and encourage President-Elect Barack Obama, congressional leaders and automakers to put more plug-ins on American roads.

Ford Motor Company’s plug-in vehicle research partner Southern California Edison (SCE) drove the parade vehicle. Ford and SCE, which has the nation’s largest and most advanced electric vehicle (EV) fleet, are exploring ways to make plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) more accessible and affordable to consumers, reduce petroleum-related emissions and explore standards needed for PHEVs to connect to the nation’s electricity grid.

Electrifying Development

The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid, a demonstration vehicle, uses high voltage, lithium-ion batteries, which could cut trips to the gas station by two thirds. The vehicle uses common household current (120 volts) for charging. Full charge of the battery takes six to eight hours.

When driven for the first 30 miles following a full charge, the Ford Escape PHEV can achieve up to 120 mpg when driven on surface streets. The vehicle is not range limited by the amount of charge available in the high-voltage lithium-ion battery, because once the charge in the battery has been depleted, the vehicle continues to operate as a fuel efficient, standard Ford Escape Hybrid – the most fuel efficient sport utility vehicle on the market. The transition is automatic and unnoticeable to the driver.

Plug-In Parade

At Plug In America’s “Inaugural Parade West: Plug In, America!”, the group’s co-founder Paul Scott congratulated Obama, who has called for one million plug-in cars by 2015, and encouraged the new president to accelerate his plug-in plan and to increase the number of vehicles to 10 million by 2016.

Joining the Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid in the clean-car parade were more than 50 other all-electric vehicles, including demonstration models by Toyota, Tesla, Mitsubishi and several other vehicle makers.