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Ford to Sell Affordable Hybrid Electric Family Vehicle

10 January 2000

Ford to Sell Affordable Hybrid Electric Family Vehicle

    DETROIT, Jan. 10 -- Ford Motor Company will begin
producing and selling a family-size hybrid electric vehicle by 2003.  At the
North American International Auto Show today, Ford President and CEO Jac
Nasser said the company will offer a "no-compromise" hybrid electric vehicle
that achieves superior fuel economy and low emissions without sacrificing
performance, roominess or affordability.
    "We are going to hit the mainstream of the North American automotive
market with a family-size vehicle that gives consumers the performance and
utility they demand," Nasser said.  "It will reduce customers' fuel cost,
while making a significant, positive impact on the environment."
    Ford's hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) combines two separate propulsion
systems:  an internal combustion (IC) engine and a three-phase, AC electric
drive system.  The electric system will assist the IC engine when extra power
is needed, such as during acceleration.  In addition, the electric system will
recapture energy normally lost during deceleration -- called regenerative
braking.
    Prabhakar Patil, HEV chief program engineer, says that the Ford hybrid
will offer consumers more functionality than hybrids currently on the market.
    "The hybrid electric powertrain system we are developing is designed to
work in a variety of vehicle configurations and will be available in vehicles
that most meet consumers' needs for space and versatility," Patil said.
    The HEV package is expected to add approximately $3,000 to the vehicle
price.  A proposed federal tax incentive of up to $3,000 per vehicle would
offset the added cost and greatly increase demand for the vehicle, Patil said.
    Ford's participation in the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles
(PNGV) has played an important part in developing the technical capability
needed to build production hybrid electric vehicles.  As part of the PNGV
program, recently developed Ford Prodigy and the P2000 LSR -- both are five-
passenger hybrid electric family sedans.
    Ford has been working on hybrid electric vehicles since 1993.  In 1995,
Ford built seven HEV prototypes for the California Air Resources Board as part
of a technology demonstration program.  The vehicles were based on Ford's
Ecostar electric vehicle.