DETROIT – A test fleet of Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is making its way on the road today powered by lithium-ion batteries from Johnson
Controls-Saft. The demonstration fleet will examine the future of PHEVs as
part of a complete vehicle, home and grid energy system.
The green project is the result of an ongoing collaboration among Ford, Johnson Controls-Saft, Southern California Edison and Electric Power Research Institute.
“This fleet demonstrates a major step forward toward validating plug-in
hybrid vehicle technology,” said Mary Ann Wright, who leads the Johnson
Controls-Saft joint venture and is vice president and general manager of
Johnson Controls’ hybrid battery business. “PHEVs, which have the ability
to drive an extended range on electric-only power, can significantly reduce
emissions and improve fuel economy.”
The 20-vehicle fleet will be tested first in California by SCE and
later by other utilities in the New York/ New Jersey area, to help
determine regional differences in vehicle usage and performance, as well as
how PHEVs will affect the electric grid system and associated
infrastructure requirements. The first unit was delivered to California in
December; additional units will be on the road in June.
The outcome of the fleet will help to continue to address barriers to
commercialization including cost, technology validation, and strategies for
charging the vehicles.
“PHEVs have great promise, but we are still working to fully address
all of the technical and business challenges that stand in the way of
commercialization,” said Nancy Gioia, director of Sustainable Mobility
Technologies at Ford Motor Company. “Ultimately such vehicles must provide
real value to consumers, utilities, automakers and suppliers.”
PHEVs are part of a family of electric-drive technologies that could
play an important role in achieving national objectives of energy security
and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while also reducing fuel costs.
The research and analysis of the demonstration fleet will include data
from four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer
usage, and grid infrastructure. The analysis will also explore possible
stationary and secondary usages for advanced batteries. The combined
expertise of the partners in this project — Ford, Johnson Controls-Saft,
SCE and EPRI — is designed to advance a greater understanding of a
vehicle, home and grid energy system.
Johnson Controls-Saft is a joint venture that has brought together
Johnson Controls — the world’s leading supplier of automotive batteries
and a company deeply experienced in integrated automotive systems solutions
— with Saft, an advanced energy storage solutions provider with extensive
Li-ion battery expertise.
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