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Ford Expands Electric Ranger Lineup for 1999 Model Year

4 December 1998

Ford Expands Electric Ranger Lineup for 1999 Model Year

    *  New Nickel Metal Hydride Ranger offered in California
    *  Lead Acid Ranger lease price decreases to $349
    *  Fast Charging test program to begin in 1999

    PHOENIX, Dec. 3 --  Ford Motor Company will offer a
1999 Ford Ranger Electric Vehicle (EV) equipped with nickel metal hydride
(NiMH) batteries to customers in California.
    "It's the 'Voice of the Customer' that drives these products," says Mike
McCabe, Ford Alternative Fuel Vehicles worldwide marketing manager.  "In
California, customers asked for greater range, increased payload, and longer
battery life.  And that's what we gave them."
    The NiMH vehicle will get real world driving mileage of 65 to 85 miles on
a single charge.  And, because the NiMH battery pack is lighter than the lead-
acid version, customer payload capacity will increase from 700 to 1200 pounds.
    California customers will pay $450 monthly to lease a NiMH version of the
Ranger EV, about $100 more than the lead-acid version.  The high costs
associated with the advanced technology battery are the main reason for the
increased lease fee.
    "EVs and the batteries that power them are technologies still in
development stages, which translates into higher costs," McCabe says.
"However, it's important for us to be able to offer fleet customers in
California a nickel-metal hydride package.  They are paying more, but I can
assure you, they are getting more -- including the most reliable, durable EV
truck available."

    Lead Acid Ranger EV
    The 1999 lead-acid Ford Ranger EV will be offered throughout the rest of
North America for a lease price of $349 a month -- a $100 reduction from last
year.
    In addition, the lead acid Ranger EV will be the basis for a nationwide
demonstration of fast-charging technology in 1999, bringing that technology
closer to market.  With fast charging, a Ranger EV can be 80 percent charged
in 15-20 minutes.
    The demonstration program will begin this spring with fast charge-equipped
Ranger EVs going to utilities in the U.S. and Canada.  The demonstration
program will continue through 2001 and could ultimately include up to 30
Ranger EVs.
    "Our objective with this demonstration fleet is to gauge both customer
satisfaction with fast charging, as well as vehicle performance," says John
Wallace, director of Ford's Alternative Vehicle Programs.  "We also hope to
drive the installation of EV infrastructure by introducing more customers and
communities to fast charging."
    Ford is working with AeroVironment, which manufactures a fast charger
called PosiCharge.  When put "on charge," the Ranger EV's Battery Control
Module (BCM) communicates with the PosiCharge to determine how much electric
current the vehicle needs, what its immediate charge state is, and how much
and how fast it needs to charge.
    "Fast charging is a 'smart' vehicle technology that helps to give our
customers the capability to charge their EVs much faster than they can today,"
says Wallace.  "This technology gives our customers a higher level of
security, utility, and convenience in terms of how far they can drive."

    Ranger EV "Built Ford Tough"
    The Ranger EV was designed to be a practical, dependable light duty pick-
up that balances performance, reliability and energy efficiency.  It has a 90
horsepower, high-efficiency three-phase AC electric motor with a single speed
transaxle.  It has a heavy duty frame and suspension, and a robust rear-wheel
drive powertrain.
    "Like all Ford trucks, the Ranger EV is 'Built Ford Tough',"  says McCabe.
"Our customers asked for an EV that drives with the safety, reliability and
durability of a conventional vehicle and that's what they'll get with this
truck."
    The Ranger EV uses a conductive charging system, which is inexpensive,
safe and easy-to-use.  The Power Control Station (PCS) used with conductive
charging is a separate piece of equipment necessary to charge the vehicle.  It
provides the link between the stationary electric power and the Ranger EV.
The PCS controls the power to the on-board vehicle charger and must be wired
directly to a 240-volt, 32 amp electrical source.
    "We believe conductive charging is the safest, most efficient and cost-
effective method of charging available today,"  says McCabe.  "It is
significantly less costly to purchase than the competing inductive charging
systems."
    The conductive charging system used for the Ranger EV complies with the
Society of Automotive Engineers safety standards.
    The Ranger EV joins the industry leading list of alternative fuel vehicles
(AFVs) Ford currently offers for sale to fleet and retail customers.  Ford
offers vehicles that can operate on electricity, ethanol, natural gas and
propane.