The Ford Escape PHEV
What do you know? More good news for our day. The Ford Motor Company officially announced its partnership with Johnson Controls-Saft to develop lithium ion batteries for its upcoming plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle. This is great news indeed as I believe Johnson Controls makes an excellent product and this alliance will prove fruitful.
Indeed, Ford is already using JCS batteries in their fleet of Ford Escape PHEV's. Ford launched a test fleet with various electric companies across the nation in order to garner real world data on the performance and characteristics of the plug-in hybrid Escape. Unfortunately, Ford has no plans to offer a PHEV Escape in the future. This is a shame as the vehicle can obtain over 100 mpg when using mostly battery power (which can last up to 30 miles). The Ford Escape PHEV is precisely the alternate energy vehicle that can make a profound impact on our use of foreign oil.
Ford plans to offer a battery electric vehicle (BEV) commercial use van in 2010, a BEV small sedan in 2011 and the aforementioned PHEV in 2012. The question is, "Why can't Ford offer the PHEV Escape in 2010?" Can you think of any reason that prevents this?
From Green Car Congress:
"Ford has into a partnership with Johnson Controls-Saft (JCS) to develop advanced lithium-ion battery system to power Ford’s first production plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) beginning in 2012. Also, seven regional electric utility partners are joining Ford and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to conduct real-world tests on an expanding fleet of Ford Escape PHEVs.
Ford says partnerships will help it 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—unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January—by 2011 (earlier post) and a PHEV by 2012.
The lithium-ion 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 five-year supply agreement includes delivery for committed production in 2012 with a target of at least 5,000 units per year.
Ford’s current demonstration fleet of Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) is using JCS Li-ion packs. The first PHEV research prototype used a JCS 10 kWh lithium-ion battery pack based off a 41 Ah cylindrical cell. Ford and JCS developed the plug-in pack together. The PHEV uses a blended operating strategy, and delivers an equivalent 30-mile all-electric range, according to Ford. (Earlier post.)
Ford is providing Escape PHEVs for real world road testing to its new research and utility partners around the country, including:
- 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.
- New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, a state agency.
Ford formed its first utility partnership with Southern California Edison in 2007. (Earlier post.)
EPRI, which is providing financial and logistical support for extensive new studies, formed the collaboration of utilities for the program. This allows EPRI and Ford, which first entered into a three-year agreement in March, to study regional differences and the impact on the electric grid as well as the vehicles.
The data mined from these field tests will provide crucial information that will help us continue to make advances in battery technology, vehicle systems and customer usage. This technical information will lead to PHEV standards that will ultimately help automakers and utilities develop an efficient, convenient infrastructure and a seamless interface between the road and the power grid.
—Arshad Mansoor, EPRI vice president of Power Delivery and Utilization
The research into PHEVs focuses on four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage, and grid infrastructure. The companies also will explore the potential for stationary battery application and the value of energy storage.
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.
We are at the point where we need to work with the battery supply base, the utility industry and the government in order to find ways to make electrified vehicles an affordable proposition for consumers. Plug-in hybrids hold great promise, but do still face significant obstacles to commercialization.
—Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
The demonstration Ford Escape PHEV uses common household current (120V) 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."
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