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December 3, 2007 – Vol. 12 No.37 Ford: First Escape Plug-in Hybrid Delivered to Southern California Edison (SCE). The PHEV with a lithium-ion battery achieves up to 120 mpg gasoline equivalent. The first of 20 research and demonstration Escape PHEVs will begin road testing as part of a partnership between the automaker and the utility. That collaboration is to advance the commercialization of plug-ins by exploring the values of the new technology as well as new business models when the battery is connected to the home and, in time, the electrical grid. (That business model might include selling stored off-peak electricity in the Escape PHEV back to the grid; a plan that could reduce the cost of PHEV ownership.) “We are united in a common cause,” said Lynda Ziegler, Southern California Edison’s senior vice president, Customer Service. “We bring our expertise in energy production, delivery and management, and combine it with Ford’s expertise in hybrid technology. Together, we are seeking solutions to address the needs of our shared customers and to ultimately help this nation achieve energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “This is not about simply connecting the car to the grid. It’s about integrating vehicles and energy storage technologies into the energy system of the future”.
The vehicle uses household current (120 volts) for charging with full charge in six to eight hours. When driven for the first 30 miles on electric power alone the Ford Escape PHEV can achieve up to 120 mpg gasoline equivalent when driven on surface streets. Once the charge in the battery has been depleted, the vehicle continues to operate as a standard Ford Escape Hybrid. The transition is automatic and unnoticeable to the driver, according to SCE. Ford and SCE will jointly conduct testing of the vehicles, some of which may be evaluated in typical customer settings to model overall home and grid values. The testing will provide valuable data related to the durability, reliability and safety of the battery technology. The cost of advanced lithium ion batteries means the technology is currently not economically feasible for widespread vehicle application. (12/3/07)
Links: Ford Edison International
Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: No
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