Choice in green car for the future

Sustainability in the automotive industry is not just about producing small electrical vehicles, it's about providing a choice of vehicles in all shapes and sizes that are environmentally sound. John Viera, Global Director, Sustainability and Vehicle Environmental Matters, Ford Motor Company, commented during a presentation today on the addition of Ford’s Ecoboost technology to its Falcon range - FG Falcon MkII EcoBoost.

“Vehicles are a significant source of greenhouse emissions but not the major source,” says Viera. According to reports, they contribute to around 12.6% of the CO₂ emissions in Australia (20% in the US).

The Ecoboost technology is designed to provide fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance. A 2 L engine in the FG Falcon MkII EcoBoost range is said to deliver 6 cylinder-like performance with the economy of a 4 cylinder. This technology is just one of Ford’s sustainable engine alternatives, which also includes the Falcon EcoLPi and I6/16 turbo engines.

"Reducing CO₂ emissions from the tailpipe also results in greater fuel efficiency. It is a one-to-one relationship and that’s great for cost of ownership,” says Viera.

Although reducing the emissions in vehicles is a large part of the strategy for a more sustainable vehicle, Ford is also working on other areas that lead to improved fuel efficiency including weight reduction and aerodynamics. The company is also using recyclable plant-based material for the foam in the seats and working with other industries to form an industrial symbiosis. For example, in the US the company is working with a blue jeans company and using its waste, which in the past would have been sent to landfill, to create a material that is used in the carpets of a vehicle.

Currently electrified vehicles make up 1% of the global market for vehicles however, by 2020, Ford predicts this market will grow to 10-25%. It is hard to predict what technology will take off, Viera admits, so, rather than being right about one choice, Ford’s strategy is to be flexible. The company’s electrification strategy for the future includes three choices: Hybrid, Energi plug-in hybrid and Electric full electric.

“The challenge with electrics is that the battery technology is very expensive and until the cost is brought down we are not going to get the high volume of use,” says Viera. Other problems include the utilities not being able to provide enough recharging stations and technology needed to improve the range of the battery.

“Biofuels are also going to be a key part of our strategy,” says Viera. Liquid fuels hold a lot of energy, unlike a battery, and by using plant-based material that is not suitable for food, the fuel is renewable and sustainable. Viera predicts the ethanol percentage (currently 10%) will grow more and more.

“Hydrogen is a ways off,” he says. He explained that one hydrogen pump station costs $1 million and therefore infrastructure is a problem with this technology. “We are still working on it in the research labs,” he adds.

Viera concluded that the main goal for Ford is greater fuel efficiency, lowering CO₂ emissions, providing choice and making it affordable for all. It’s no use having a fantastic fuel-efficient vehicle if no one can afford it.