Ford is trying to catch up with the world's expanding hybrid car market as it takes its hybrid car technology research seriously and schedule the launch of more Ford hybrid cars in 2008.
Ford Airstream Concept
Together with travel trailers innovator Airstream, Ford has designed its Space Age vehicle using the HySeries Drive system. The system uses a 336 volt lithium ion battery to generate power to sustain a Ford Airstream for its initial 25 miles.
Ford Airstream is trying to pair its lithium-ion batteries with hydrogen fuel cells, giving it sufficient wattage to run the electric motor. The result is 305 miles of travel, much more than the 280 miles you get if running on hydrogen fuel cells alone.
Part of the costs in developing the HySeries Drive with Airstream was shouldered by the US Department of Energy. Ford also paired with Ballard, a Canadian company who makes the fuel cells for Ford hybrid cars. These partnerships are being undertaken to meet an expected demand of 3 million Ford hybrid cars by 2010.
A new Ford Fusion Hybrid to be released in 2008
It would have been named Futura, if not for a lawsuit filed by Pep Boys, an auto parts shop. Thus, Ford decided to call its latest hybrid entry Ford Fusion Hybrid after a midsize car popular in North America.
Fusion Hybrid will be the fourth among Ford hybrid cars already out in the market. Its predecessors include Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Mazda Tribute Hybrid.
Fusion Hybrid 2008 will maintain the PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) rating of the 4-cylinder 2006 Fusion. It will have a 2.3 liter engine which can generate 160 horsepower allowing you to drive at 30 mpg in highway conditions.
About the Author
Visit Green-Hybrid-Cars.com for useful information and resources about Ford hybrid cars, Honda hybrids and hybrid cars Toyota.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Vehicles Of The Future Showcased At LA Auto Show
The Los Angeles Auto Show is not just about showcasing new vehicles and concept vehicles. It is also the place where automakers' design studios competed to create the best design of vehicles of the future. Fifteen designs studios entered the competition with futuristic cars.
The competition is about designing vehicles which will be attractive to car buyers 50 years from now hence the competition being called "Design Challenge: Robocar 2057". Designers should be able to explain why their designs would be popular fifty years down the road.
Last year's winner of the competition is the Hummer O2. The said futuristic vehicle won the competition centered on eco-friendly automotive technology. The Hummer O2 design is powered by fuel cell and has the capability to purify the air around it. Algae-filled body panels of the futuristic vehicle transform carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen. Apart from that, the O2 is also made from 100 percent recycled materials.
This year's winner is the Volkswagen Concept Slipstream. Said vehicle is basically a pod fit for a single person. On city streets, it travels in an upright position to occupy less space than vehicles of today. On special highways, the pod will travel horizontally at speeds reaching 250 miles per hour. The Slipstream is the brainchild of designers at Volkswagen/Audi Design Center in Santa Monica, California.
Another vehicle which deserves recognition is the Mercedes-Benz Silver Flow. According to Marty Bernstein writing for The Auto Channel: "Designers of the Silver Flow envision a multi-dimensional vehicle composed of micro metallic particles that rearrange themselves to become a vehicle of a specific shape, literally by pressing a button on a magnetic assembler. The shape can be selected by the driver. Inspired by Mercedes-Benz racing vehicles from a bygone age this concept was created by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America in Irvine, CA."
Japanese automaker Mazda put forth a radically-designed vehicle named the Motonari RX. Said vehicle is described by Bernstein saying: "Crumpled silver paper? No, the Motonari is made of a 100 percent, re-prototypable carbon fiber nano tube shape memory alloy weave with a photovoltaic coating (which, by the way, is yet to be invented). The interface between the driver and the vehicle is a driving suit made of millions of microscopic actuators, which enables the driver to experience the road psycho-somatically while making the driver and vehicle indistinguishable from each other. This sensational ride comes from Mazda R&D of North America in Irvine, CA."
While the design put forth by automakers at the Los Angeles Auto Show are futuristic, they are sure to have reliable parts like Bilstein shocks if ever they are mass produced.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
The competition is about designing vehicles which will be attractive to car buyers 50 years from now hence the competition being called "Design Challenge: Robocar 2057". Designers should be able to explain why their designs would be popular fifty years down the road.
Last year's winner of the competition is the Hummer O2. The said futuristic vehicle won the competition centered on eco-friendly automotive technology. The Hummer O2 design is powered by fuel cell and has the capability to purify the air around it. Algae-filled body panels of the futuristic vehicle transform carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen. Apart from that, the O2 is also made from 100 percent recycled materials.
This year's winner is the Volkswagen Concept Slipstream. Said vehicle is basically a pod fit for a single person. On city streets, it travels in an upright position to occupy less space than vehicles of today. On special highways, the pod will travel horizontally at speeds reaching 250 miles per hour. The Slipstream is the brainchild of designers at Volkswagen/Audi Design Center in Santa Monica, California.
Another vehicle which deserves recognition is the Mercedes-Benz Silver Flow. According to Marty Bernstein writing for The Auto Channel: "Designers of the Silver Flow envision a multi-dimensional vehicle composed of micro metallic particles that rearrange themselves to become a vehicle of a specific shape, literally by pressing a button on a magnetic assembler. The shape can be selected by the driver. Inspired by Mercedes-Benz racing vehicles from a bygone age this concept was created by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America in Irvine, CA."
Japanese automaker Mazda put forth a radically-designed vehicle named the Motonari RX. Said vehicle is described by Bernstein saying: "Crumpled silver paper? No, the Motonari is made of a 100 percent, re-prototypable carbon fiber nano tube shape memory alloy weave with a photovoltaic coating (which, by the way, is yet to be invented). The interface between the driver and the vehicle is a driving suit made of millions of microscopic actuators, which enables the driver to experience the road psycho-somatically while making the driver and vehicle indistinguishable from each other. This sensational ride comes from Mazda R&D of North America in Irvine, CA."
While the design put forth by automakers at the Los Angeles Auto Show are futuristic, they are sure to have reliable parts like Bilstein shocks if ever they are mass produced.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
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