2009 Ford Escape Hybrid » SUVs – text

FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS HELP ON LOS ANGELES BEACHES

FoMoCo — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:09:23 +0000

Ford Escape Hybrids Help Save Lives, Conserve Fuel, Protect Air Quality on Los Angeles Beaches

For the past year the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Service, a division of the fire department, has used a fleet of 2009 Ford Escape Hybrids to help save lives while reducing fuel consumption and protecting the environment. During the first 11 months of service, Escape Hybrids have played a crucial part in thousands of rescues and more than a million rescue preventions at L.A. County beaches. Seaside Escapes More than 58 million people visit Los Angeles’ sandy beaches every year, and the number is going up. Public safety is the primary concern of Los Angeles County lifeguards, who use a fleet of 45 customized Escape Hybrids to patrol 72 miles of coastline. After nearly a year of beach patrol, L.A. County lifeguards and officials say the Escape Hybrids have been valuable tools in efforts ranging from saving injured surfers to moving swimmers out of rip currents to reuniting lost children with their parents. Escape Hybrids have become critical tools for the lifeguards stationed in Malibu, for example. Last October, they used three Escape Hybrids and an F-350 in the rescue of two men involved in a single-engine plane crash near the Malibu Pier. In January 2009, lifeguards used an Escape Hybrid to tow a wave runner into position to launch a rescue of a capsized kayaker who was at risk of hypothermia. Two months later, lifeguards patrolling in an Escape Hybrid were in the right place at the right time to rescue a surfer who had been knocked unconscious in the water and was in danger of drowning. Geared Up The customized Escape Hybrids enable L.A.’s lifeguards to efficiently stow rescue gear and protect it from the elements, said Fernando Boiteux, the department’s northern section chief. Based on input from the lifeguards, Ford designers removed 60 percent of the rear seat on the driver’s side and replaced it with a rescue equipment storage unit – an aluminum box with specially designated spaces for important emergency equipment, such as defibrillators, trauma boxes and oxygen tanks. The remaining 40 percent of the seat was left intact in case the lifeguards had to transport someone, such as a lost child. Ford designers also outfitted the Escape Hybrids with a custom-fit roof rack for the lifeguards’ paddle board and spine boards. The vehicles were painted a vibrant yellow – iconic for lifeguards – and then detailed with authoritative graphics and finished off with dark wheels. The lifeguards said their Escape Hybrids offer excellent visibility, a significant safety plus on the beach, and that the four-wheel drive feature enables them to navigate the sandy terrain without getting stuck and make more precise turns. Protect and Conserve In addition to saving lives, the Escape Hybrid fleet enabled L.A. lifeguards to reduce their entire fleet’s fuel usage by 25 percent – more than 5,000 gallons of gas – during the first six months of service despite increased driving due to 20 percent higher beach attendance than the previous year. The fuel cost savings has helped L.A. County to maintain its critical front line staffing despite the economic downturn. The lifeguards use four-wheel-drive Escape Hybrids, which deliver outstanding fuel economy of 29 mpg city and 27 mpg highway; also available is the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid – the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet – which is delivers 34 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway. The lifeguards also use six F-350s and two F-250s along with other specialized vehicles. In addition to fuel savings, the lifeguards reduced their fleet’s emissions by approximately 97,500 lbs. (44,250 kg) of CO2 during the first half year of service. The Escape Hybrid is one of the cleanest vehicles available today, meeting California’s strict Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standard. Safety and Technology Advances The 2010 Escape and Escape Hybrid, which arrive in showrooms this summer, add five new features that can help improve safety, reduce driver distractions and aid drivers by automatically parallel parking their vehicle. The new Escapes will add MyKey™ teen-safety technology, Integrated Spotter Mirrors – both offered standard (MyKey on XLT and above models) – optional Rear View Camera System and SYNC with real-time Traffic, Directions and Information. The new model also will be North America’s first SUV to offer Active Park Assist, which uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot. The new technologies build on Escape’s unsurpassed crash ratings – a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and 5-star government ratings in all crash tests. The Escape, which Kelley Blue Book editors recently named one of the “2009 Best New Family Vehicles,” also is the only compact SUV to offer standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control) and a standard Safety Canopy® side curtain air-bag system. QUOTES “When we partnered with the L.A. County lifeguards we knew the Escape Hybrid would serve them well by providing clean, fuel-efficient transportation with a high degree of utility and durability. Now, we’re absolutely thrilled to know the fleet has been a reliable tool in so many lifesaving efforts.” – David Finnegan, Ford Hybrids Marketing Manager “Our philosophy in LA County is to be proactive and prevent rescues before they happen. Mitigating hazardous conditions is the prime reason for our amazing safety record. Our Ford fleet of Escape Hybrids is an integral part of our entire lifeguard operation – we’re saving lives and the environment.” – Mike Frazier, Chief Lifeguard, Los Angeles County Fire Department “Not only does the Escape Hybrid play a key role in our lifeguard rescue activities, it also is one of the cleanest vehicles available today, releasing fewer emissions into the atmosphere during a three-hour drive than grilling one hamburger in your backyard.” – Dusty Crane, Chief of Community and Marketing Services Division at the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors

Environmental Group Rates Ford Hybrids as ‘Greener Choices’

FoMoCo — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:50:10 +0000

Environmental Group Rates 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid and Ranger as ‘Greener Choices’

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.

FORD EXPANDS PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE PROGRAM

FoMoCo — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Ford Adds 7 New Utility Partners, Battery Makers to Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Program

Ford Motor Company is getting charged up about its electric vehicle strategy. It’s announced a new battery supplier and added seven utility partners and a New York research and development authority to a test program to speed the commercialization of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Ford’s partnerships will help 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 Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) by 2012.

Road Testing Tomorrow’s Transportation Today

Ford’s electric utility partners in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina and Alabama will conduct real-world tests on a fleet of Ford Escape PHEVs. The research focuses on four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage, grid infrastructure, the potential for stationary battery application and the value of energy storage.

The utility partners include New York Power Authority, Consolidated Edison of N.Y., American Electric Power of Ohio, Alabama Power and its parent, Atlanta-based Southern Co., Progress Energy of N.C, DTE Energy of Mich., and National Grid of Mass., as well as New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, a state agency.

Ford formed its first utility partnership with Southern California Edison in 2007, and 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 Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) formed the collaboration of utilities for the program.

Power-ful Partner

Battery producer Johnson Controls-Saft will develop an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power Ford’s first production PHEVs beginning in 2012.

The battery system that Johnson Controls-Saft is designing and manufacturing for Ford include cells, mechanical, electrical, electronic and thermal components. Initially the cells will be produced at the supplier’s production facility in France, but the system will be assembled in the United States.

The Promise of Plug-Ins

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.

PLUG-IN PARTICIPATES IN ‘PRESIDENTIAL’ PARADE

FoMoCo — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:39:52 +0000

Ford Plug-In Participates in ‘Presidential’ Parade

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.