Ford Delivers Four More Flex-Fuel Hybrids for Testing

16 August 2007

Ford Motor Company delivered one of its demonstration fleet of E85 flex-fuel hybrids (earlier post) to the State of Missouri and three to Kansas City Power & Light.

A total of 20 Ford E85 Escape Hybrids will be delivered to select fleet customers in six states.

The E85 Escape Hybrid produces about 25% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a gasoline-fueled Escape Hybrid, according to Ford.

The Escape Hybrid E85 research project is a learning lab for Ford’s FFV programs for 2010 and beyond. Tailpipe emissions of flexible-fuel vehicles still represent one of the biggest challenges and priorities. Currently, no manufacturer’s FFV has been certified as a partial zero-emissions vehicle (PZEV). A full-hybrid application presents even more evaporative challenges because the vehicle operates on electric power alone without actuating the evaporative vacuum system that operates when the gas engine is in use.

Although we currently do not have plans to produce the Escape Hybrid E85, the research from this technology could lead to breakthroughs in even more advanced technologies.

—Nancy Gioia, Director, Sustainable Mobility Technology, Ford