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Ford is planning a follow-up to the zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid concept - based on the US-market Ford Edge cross-over - that it unveiled last January.
The body of the new concept will be constructed from aluminium to save weight (the Edge weighs almost 2.5 tonnes) and it is also expected to be ultra-aerodynamic, changes that will reduce fuel consumption, extend the concept's range and improve its performance.
Improved packaging of the drivetrain components is also expected, along with a reduction in cost that will take the project closer to Ford's aim of selling plug-in hybrids by 2015-17.
The plug-in hybrid system works like this. The car is propelled entirely by battery-powered electric motors (two in the case of the four-wheel drive Edge), the lithium-ion battery pack allowing a range of 40kms - with a 0-100km/h time of 14.0 seconds and a top speed of 140km/h for the Edge - without any recharging.
For longer journeys a hydrogen fuel-cell steps in to recharge the batteries, extending the Edge's range by up to 320kms. The idea is that you recharge the car from the domestic mains overnight - when many national grids actually produce a surplus of electricity - the 25 mile range usually sufficient for most people's commutes.
Running it on domestic electricity, incidentally, effectively means that in Britain, you would pay 12 pence for a litre of fuel rather than today's 97p or so.
On longer runs requiring the fuel cell generator, the driver will be able to refuel with hydrogen on motorways and interstates, an arrangement that would allow for a smaller hydrogen station infrastructure.
The fuel cell generator could be substituted for a small petrol or diesel generator should the hydrogen infrastructure not be in place.
The concept is similar to that used by General Motor's Chevrolet Volt, both manufacturers believing that this is the most viable zero or ultra-low emission powertrain yet developed.
Ford's next concept, whose bodystyle has yet to be confirmed, will take the company a decisive step closer to putting a plug-in hybrid into production.
It already makes a conventional, Toyota Prius-style petrol electric hybrid powerpack in the US, where it's offered in the Ford Escape 4x4.
- REUTERS
