Ford News - Xcel Energy will begin plug-in hybrid test with

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Xcel Energy announced a plug-in hybrid test program today that will use six Ford Escape Hybrids converted to PHEV capability for a six-month period, starting before the year is out. The Escape PHEVs will be part of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology demonstration in or near Denver (at least, that's where the press release, available after the break, is datelined. The release itself says " Xcel Energy will study how the vehicles perform in varied geographic regions and climates"). Three will be used by Xcel fleet drivers and three in "typical home settings." As you heard in the Santa Monica Alt Car hydrogen fuel cell panel, it's those home users that give a company the best data in test like this.
Related:
Xcel Energy and NREL announce wind powered hydrogen productionHybrids Plus, Inc. to build PHEV Escape for New York State
[Source: Xcel]
October 22, 2007
Xcel Energy announces six-month test drive of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
DENVER - Six plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will be on the road by the end of 2007 as part of a demonstration test of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology by Xcel Energy. The goal is to determine how consumers can use the vehicles to significantly lower greenhouse gases, shore up electricity grid reliability and prove PHEVs are a viable alternative to today's carbon-emitting cars.
The project, which will convert six Ford Escape Hybrids to PHEVs equipped with V2G technology so each can charge and discharge power to and from the grid, is one of the nation's first real-world demonstrations of the emerging technology.
With operations in eight states, Xcel Energy will study how the vehicles perform in varied geographic regions and climates over a six-month period. Three company employees will serve as test drivers, using three of the PHEVs in typical home settings. The remaining three PHEVs will be used in the company's fleet.
"With every U.S. home connected to the electricity grid, vehicle-to-grid technology could be key to meeting our growing energy needs," said Michael Lamb, executive director of Xcel Energy Utility Innovations. "This project will allow us to explore how PHEVs can become an integrated part of a 'smart house' and our vision of the smart grid energy system of the future - one that allows customers and utilities to work together to balance the power grid, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve our nation's energy security."
Xcel Energy's demonstration will build on its previous PHEV impact study (http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/41410.pdf) by examining how drivers - and their vehicles - will react and perform in real-world settings. The project will explore the potential benefits of widespread PHEV use including: reducing petroleum-related emissions and greenhouse gases, enhancing energy security by reducing dependence on foreign oil, improving the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the electricity grid, exploring ways to make PHEVs more accessible and lowering vehicle fuel costs.
The project is a joint collaboration between Xcel Energy; Hybrids Plus Inc. in Boulder, Colo.; V2Green Inc. in Seattle, Wash.; and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.
To make the cars V2G capable, each will be equipped with a V2Green Connectivity Module that controls vehicle charging, collects data and communicates via a cellular modem; and an Inverger (a 6-kilowatt inverter and charger in a single unit) from Hybrids Plus. In addition, Hybrids Plus will replace the cars' nickel-metal hydride batteries with a lithium-ion phosphate battery pack. V2Green will also supply server software enabling remote control of smart charging and V2G functions.
By outfitting the vehicles with these components, Xcel Energy can remotely control the battery cycles in each vehicle by requesting that each postpones charging or begins discharging energy back to the electricity grid.
"We're committed to advancing new transportation technologies to bring the environmental and economic benefits of PHEVs to our customers," said Ray Gogel, Xcel Energy chief administrative officer. "We take our environmental commitments seriously, and V2G technology holds great promise in reducing greenhouse gases and helping our grid work smarter. We're excited to advance this innovative technology, which we believe holds significant promise for the future."
Xcel Energy is dedicated to improving the environment and providing the leadership to make a difference in the communities it serves. The company is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the second consecutive year. Xcel Energy is the nation's No. 1 wind power provider. The company operates Windsource, the nation's largest voluntary wind energy program in terms of customers. Xcel Energy is a leader in emissions reduction programs and in developing new technologies and tools to help bring clean, renewable energy onto its system at an affordable cost for its customers.
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Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com

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Ford Escape Hybrid Technology Clinic Comes To Sacramento

Following the success of Ford Escape Hybrid Technology Clinic in the city of Portland, Ford Motor Company will soon be traveling hundreds of miles to the south to conduct the same event which will take place at the capital city of California. Just as the technology clinic conducted in Portland a few days ago, hybrid engineers of Ford Motor Company along with the representatives from the City of Sacramento will also host a technology clinic for the Ford Escape Hybrid that will showcase the benefi

Other benefits of the Escape hybrid include clean exhaust emission, improved fuel economy, and an extended gas mileage. The Ford Motor Company describes the Escape Hybrid as the very first vehicle that combines the excellent ability of an SUV and the outstanding fuel economy and environmental benefits of hybrid vehicles.

The second Ford Escape Hybrid Technology Clinic will take place at the Marriott Hotel off Sunrise Blvd., Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, CA on Wednesday, August 2, 2006. The event will start at 10:00 AM. Another related event, which is the Ford Escape Hybrid owner clinic, will start from 6:00 down to 8:00 PM on the same location.

Source: http://www.4free-articles.com/Vehicles/Cars/Ford-Escape-Hybrid-Technology-Clinic-Comes-To-Sacramento-.html

Renault's Green Car

Automakers are going green.  That is pretty much obvious.  Toyota still leads the way with its popular Prius.  American automakers like Ford and General Motors are also manufacturing green vehicles.  For Ford, there's the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid and the Mazda Tribute Hybrid.  General Motors on the other hand will be releasing the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrids this fall.  But not only Japanese and American automakers are making advances in making green vehicles.  European automaker Renault recently unveiled the greenest vehicle from their stable yet.
The Logan Renault eco2 Concept is an experimental car from the French automaker.  The said car will be fielded in the upcoming Michelin-organized Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai, China.  The said vehicle represents Renault's dedication to developing and manufacturing eco-friendly vehicles.  The vehicle produces only 97 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometer traveled making it cleaner than most vehicles available today.
According to theautochannel.com, the concept car was made clean by focusing on the its powertrain, aerodynamics and running gear.  The report reads:  "Powertrain: modified pistons and injection system for enhanced combustion, detail work on tolerances and lubrication to minimize friction, new gearbox ratios; Aerodynamics: the combination of a VORTEX generator (a small, drag-reducing, roof-mounted feature), a flexible splitter under the front bumper, wheel fairings and a rear lip spoiler have enabled the Cd to be cut from the 0.36 of a standard Logan to 0.29; Running gear: Logan Renault eco² Concept is equipped with low rolling resistance Michelin Pure tyres (185/65 R15). The camber and toe settings, as well as the braking system, have also been optimized as part of the across-the-board bid to combat friction."
The unveiling of the concept car made by the French automaker signals the company's arrival in the field of green car manufacturing.  It is now just a matter of waiting when Renault will manufacture production version if the concept vehicles which will be available to consumers.  The performance of these vehicles may be improved with replacement shocks which can complement its exemplary fuel efficiency.


Source: http://environmentalism.blog.com/2139666/

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid – The Head of the Class in Fuel Economy

Despite its rather unreliable debut in 2001, there are now some pretty good reasons for the Escape to remain the top-selling small SUV. The BuyingAdvice team is particularly fond of the Ford Escape Hybrid which combines unmatched fuel economy with high safety ratings and an improved design this year.
The Escape Hybrid now has a tougher-looking exterior that makes it fit better with the larger siblings of the Ford family. The interior updates have improved comfort, utility and quieted the ride a bit. Another savvy move was making the seating from 100% post-industrial materials helping energy conservation without sacrificing a shred of overall comfort. Plus even with more stringent mpg guidelines for 2008, the Ford Escape Hybrid gets 34 mpg in the city.
A hybrid SUV worth comparing is the Saturn VUE hybrid. If more standard features are a bigger pull than gas mileage, check out the Honda CR-V.


Source: http://blog.buyingadvice.com/2007/10/2008-ford-escap.html

Ford straddles party lines, declares Escape Hybrid "The Candidates Choice"

Ford has figured out a way to take advantage of the current crop of presidential candidates' green-pandering. As has been covered here at Autoblog, one of the measures some candidates take to burnish their eco-cred is swapping out their current daily drivers for more economical fare, and since no American Presidential candidate would be caught dead in anything other than an American car, Ford's Escape Hybrid is an obvious choice. The Ford advertisement shown at right (click for the full ad) takes advantage of this lucky fact for Ford. Not only is the SUV American-made, it's also a genuine hybrid vehicle, and as a bonus, it's got "green" seat fabric. You can almost taste the bipartisan tree-huggery. Of course, we all know that the vehicle-switching by candidates is essentially political theater, but in a Presidential campaign, what isn't? If you're in the market for one, look for a few lightly-used Escape Hybrids in the Beltway area after the primary season's over.

PRESS RELEASE:
NEW AD HIGHLIGHTS FORD ESCAPE HYBRID AS VEHICLE OF CHOICE FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

WASHINGTON, D.C. Sept. 26 – With the 2008 Presidential campaign in full swing, Ford is touting the fact that the Escape Hybrid is the "candidate's choice" for transportation, whether at home or on the campaign trail, in ads on Capitol Hill.

Reported by major news organizations – including the Associated Press, USA Today, and BusinessWeek – the Escape Hybrid, and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, are playing a role in the transportation of the current crop of Presidential hopefuls and even in that of the leaders of the previous Presidential administration.

The Escape Hybrid is the first American-made hybrid to hit the market, and it remains the cleanest and most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet. Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid are produced at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo.

The Escape Hybrid "Candidate's Choice" ad features a headline reading "We May Not Know Where All of the Candidates Stand, But We Do Know Where a Lot of Them Sit." An image of a campaign button featuring an Escape Hybrid is the centerpiece of the ad. The new ads will appear beginning the week of September 24 in several Capitol Hill publications including CongressDaily AM, CQ Today, Roll Call, The Hill and Politico.

Escape Hybrid owners, no matter if they are Presidential candidates or not, receive multiple benefits from the hybrid electric SUV, including:

* Hybrid Technology – Ford Escape Hybrid is a "full" hybrid that maximizes fuel efficiency with the ability to run on electric or gasoline power alone, or a combination of the two to deliver up to 34 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway.

* Greener Living – Escape Hybrid makes it easy to drive "green" by emitting 76% less smog-forming emissions than the average new car. Escape Hybrid is PZEV-certified (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) in the states adopting California Emissions standards. Escape Hybrid also features fabric seating surfaces produced from 100 percent recycled post-industrial materials.

* No Compromise – Featuring a rugged new look for 2008, the Escape Hybrid not only offers low environmental impact and outstanding fuel economy, but has all the capability and roominess of a traditional SUV.

* Saving Green 101 – With considerable savings from fewer visits to the gas pump, the highest available federal tax credit for a hybrid (up to $3,000 for front-wheel drive and $2,200 for all-wheel drive models), various state tax credits and local incentives, and insurance discounts from major providers (Travelers Insurance offers up to a ten percent discount in certain states), Escape Hybrid is good for an owner's bank account.

About Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape Hybrid is the cleanest and most fuel-efficient SUV in the world, combining the fuel economy and emissions benefits of a full hybrid with the go-anywhere capability, toughness and spaciousness of the Ford Escape – America's favorite small SUV.

The Escape Hybrid is a "full" hybrid, meaning it automatically switches between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power or combined operation to maximize efficiency and performance. Its gasoline engine and electric motor work in concert, providing performance similar to that of a V-6 engine. In less demanding situations, the Escape Hybrid can run on its electric motor alone (at speeds up to 25 mph), its gasoline engine alone or the most efficient combination of the two.

Full hybrids achieve their greatest improvement in fuel economy during stop-and-go driving, when the electric motor is most efficient. In fact, the Escape Hybrid provides approximately 80 percent better fuel economy in city driving than the conventional V-6 Escape and can travel more than 500 miles in city driving on a single tank of gasoline.

It is an extremely clean vehicle to operate – an amazing 99.4 percent cleaner, on average than an unregulated vehicle. Escape Hybrid meets strict Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV II) and Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards.

The 2008 Escape and Escape Hybrid are believed to be the first U.S. automotive applications of 100 percent recycled fabric seating surfaces. The new fabric, supplied by Interface Fabrics, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., is produced from 100 percent post-industrial material – defined as anything intended for retail use but never makes it to the consumer. This can be anything from plastic intended for soft drink bottles to un-dyed polyester fibers.

This plastic and polyester is processed, spun into yarn, dyed and woven into seat fabric. Recycling waste otherwise intended for landfills has obvious environmental benefits. Interface Fabrics estimates that Ford's use of post-industrial recycled materials, rather than virgin fibers, could conserve an estimated 600,000 gallons of water, 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents and more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/26/ford-straddles-party-lines-declares-escape-hybrid-the-candidat/

Escape Hybrid "The Candidate's Choice" for 08

Ford has figured out a way to take advantage of the current crop of presidential candidates' green-pandering. As has been covered here at Autoblog, one of the measures some candidates take to burnish their eco-cred is swapping out their current daily drivers for more economical fare, and since no American Presidential candidate would be caught dead in anything other than an American car, Ford's Escape Hybrid is an obvious choice"

Source: http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6421233/the-drive-in/escape-hybrid-the-candidates-choice-for-08/

Ford Escape, Not Just another SUV

A vehicle that has power. A vehicle that could deliver. A vehicle that could perform. That is the Ford Escape. It is also able to transport not only cargo but people as well. In fact, it can seat five people comfortably in its cabin. The 2005 version of this vehicle from the Ford Motor Company has an MSRP of $19,995. If you have this amount, the vehicle is yours to own. Its engine choices are the 2.3 liter L4 engine or the 3.0 liter V6 engine. These engines could produce 153 units of horsepower at 5800 rpm and 200 horsepower at 6000 rpm respectively. The delivery and functionality is greater improved with the held of a four speed automatic transmission system or with a five speed manual transmission system.

The 2005 standard version of the Ford Escape holds a couple of features that has been continually used up until the present years model. It holds a 2.3 liter Duratec 23 I4 engine with four cylinders and this comes with an automatic transmission system. It also has an automatic intelligent 4WD system that assist in improving the vehicles fuel efficiency and gas mileage. The interior has surely not been overlooked. After all, this vehicle now holds a redesigned interior. There is a flow through console, a floor mounted shifted, new gauges, and more storage space for more cargo. The Ford Escape also has upgraded seat cushions and fabrics for improved comfort. Advances in its engineering have made this vehicle much quieter inside. Take a walk outside and you would notice that the vehicle also holds new bumpers for the front and the rear. The headlights also are new. As per safety, the Ford Escape comes with upgrades like the Safety Canopy system, the Personal Safety System, as well as an improved body structure that assists greatly in enhancing crash protection.

The Ford Motor Company is the mother and main umbrella under which the Ford Escape runs under. Since 2001, this vehicle has continuously been manufactured. At present, this vehicle is still manufactured. It has been made available as a compact sport utility vehicle and it holds four doors. It has been built on the FF/AWD CD2 platform thus making it quite similar and related to the Mazda Tribute and the Mercury Mariner which also uses the same platform. Its main competition includes the Jeep Liberty, the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR V, and the Nissan Xterra.

All genuine quality Ford Escape front bumpers, front fenders, hoods, mirrors, radiators, radiator fans, and radiator supports to name a few are available for Ford Escape owners and enthusiasts in great discounts and wholesale deals at Ford Parts Discount. The proven reliability of this online stores genuine and quality Ford Escape parts keep customer loyalty for years. By simply browsing through Ford Parts Discount, one can find dependable and long lasting Ford Escape replacement parts, performance parts, body parts, and accessories.
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