What is Flex-Fuel?

The Ford Model T was the first commercial flex-fuel vehicle. The engine was capable of running on gasoline or ethanol, or a mix of both.
A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle (colloquially called a flex-fuel vehicle) is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. Modern flex-fuel engines are capable of burning any proportion of the resulting blend in the combustion chamber as fuel injection and spark timing are adjusted automatically according to the actual blend detected by electronic sensors. Flex-fuel vehicles are distinguished from bi-fuel vehicles, where two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine runs on one fuel at a time, for example, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or hydrogen.
The most common commercially available FFV in the world market is the ethanol flexible-fuel vehicle, with 25.1 million automobiles, motorcycles and light duty trucks sold worldwide by June 2011, and concentrated in four markets,^[1] Brazil (14.3 million),^[2][3][4] the United States (10 million),^[5] Canada (more than 600,000),^[6] and Europe, led by Sweden (226,089).^[7] The Brazilian flex fuel fleet includes 1 million flexible-fuel motorcycles produced since 2009.^[8][9][10] In addition to flex-fuel vehicles running with ethanol, in Europe and the US, mainly in California, there have been successful test programs with methanol flex-fuel vehicles, known as M85 flex-fuel vehicles.^[1][11] There have been also successful tests using P-series fuels with E85 flex fuel vehicles, but as of June 2008, this fuel is not yet available to the general public.^[12][13] These successful tests with P-series fuels were conducted on Ford Taurus and Dodge Caravan flexible-fuel vehicles.^[14]
Though technology exists to allow ethanol FFVs to run on any mixture of gasoline and ethanol, from pure gasoline up to 100% ethanol (E100),^[15][16] North American and European flex-fuel vehicles are optimized to run on a maximum blend of 15% gasoline with 85% anhydrous ethanol (called E85 fuel). This limit in the ethanol content is set to reduce ethanol emissions at low temperatures and to avoid cold starting problems during cold weather, at temperatures lower than 11 °C (52 °F).^[17] The alcohol content is reduced during the winter in regions where temperatures fall below 0 °C (32 °F)^[18] to a winter blend of E70 in the U.S.^[19][20] or to E75 in Sweden^[21] from November until March.^[22] Brazilian flex fuel vehicles are optimized to run on any mix of E20-E25 gasoline and up to 100% hydrous ethanol fuel (E100). The Brazilian flex vehicles are built-in with a small gasoline reservoir for cold starting the engine when temperatures drop below 15 °C (59 °F).^[23] An improved flex motor generation was launched in 2009 which eliminated the need for the secondary gas tank.^{[24][25][26][27]}

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Ford C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid Deliver Leading Fuel Economy Plus Range, Flexibility

Ford accelerates fuel economy leadership push by introducing new C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid with expected miles per gallon equivalent rating in electric mode better than Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid
 

• C-MAX Hybrid expected to achieve better fuel economy than Toyota Prius v
   
• C-MAX hybrids introduce next generation of Ford’s acclaimed powersplit technology, allowing operation in electric mode at higher speeds than any other hybrid

Visit the Ford Electrified Vehicles Media Site for more information.

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 14, 2011 – Ford’s two new hybrid vehicles, the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, are projected to set a new benchmark for fuel economy when they go on sale next year.

 

The C-MAX Energi is expected to deliver a better fuel economy equivalent in electric mode than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid with a 500-mile overall driving range, more than Chevrolet Volt. The new C-MAX Hybrid is targeted to achieve better fuel economy than Toyota Prius v.

 

Both vehicles feature the next generation of Ford’s acclaimed powersplit technology that will allow operation in electric mode at higher speeds than any other hybrid.

 

“C-MAX is the right car for the time as it combines the dynamics and quality of a traditional car with the versatility of a MAV and leading fuel efficiency that you cannot even get from Toyota,” said Sherif Marakby, director of Ford’s Electrification Programs and Engineering.

 

The C-MAX hybrids headline Ford’s transformed lineup, one-third of which will feature a model with 40 mpg or more in 2012, building on the company’s commitment to give fuel-efficiency-minded customers the Power of Choice.

 

Ford’s near-term electrification plan calls for the company to triple production capacity of its electrified vehicle range by 2013. The C-MAX vehicles will be built on the company’s global C-segment platform and are two of five electrified vehicles Ford plans to launch in North America in 2012.

 

Scheduled to start hitting showroom floors in the second half of 2012, the C-MAX hybrids will be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., with production powered in part by one of the largest solar energy generator systems in the state.

 

More hybrid innovations

Ford holds approximately 500 patents that cover technologies in its electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles like C-MAX Energi in addition to several hundred patent-pending applications.

 

With 20 years of Ford research and innovation behind the software and hardware technology driving them, the C-MAX vehicles also offer a proven design and nameplate with more than 100,000 sold in Europe since it launched in late 2010.

 

The C-MAX hybrids will be the company’s first dedicated hybrid vehicle line and the first MAV (multi-activity vehicle) line in North America.

 

“The C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi are designed to meet the needs of customers looking to ‘plus-up’ and optimize their hybrid car experience,” said Amy Machesney, C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi Marketing manager. “These customers are living more environmentally responsible lives and may have bought a hybrid in the past. They are now ready for more hybrid choice, combined with style, better performance and additional versatility.”

 

Fuel efficiency, range and power

C-MAX Hybrid is projected to deliver class-leading fuel economy and beat the Toyota Prius v in both city and highway equivalent miles per gallon.

 

C-MAX Energi is projected to deliver better fuel economy in electric mode than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid and is projected to achieve more than 500 miles of overall driving range.

 

The C-MAX line hits impressive fuel efficiency and range figures without sacrificing driving performance.

 

“With C-MAX, you get road-holding capability, sportiness and performance in addition to leading fuel economy, great versatility, great features and great technology in a package designed to exceed customer expectations,” said John Davis, C-MAX chief nameplate engineer.

 

Technology

The C-MAX line features the company’s innovative hands-free liftgate that allows quick and easy access to the cargo area without ever needing to fumble for keys. A gentle kicking motion under the rear bumper opens the liftgate when used in combination with a key fob the user keeps in his or her pocket or purse that tells the car it’s OK to engage. The same motion can be used to close the liftgate.

 

The vehicles also feature the newest version of SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® to help inform, enlighten, engage and empower drivers – with an emphasis on increasing fuel economy.

 

This feature offers multiple ways for customers to manage and control their phone, navigation, entertainment and climate functions through voice commands, menus accessed through controls on the steering wheel, touch screens, buttons or knobs. In C-MAX Energi, the system offers additional information such as battery state of charge and distance to the next charge point.

 

The C-MAX also offers the next generation of SmartGauge^® with EcoGuide. Designed to help drivers get the most from the C-MAX, information such as instantaneous fuel economy can be displayed on the left cluster to help drivers more closely monitor how their driving behavior affects the vehicle’s efficiency.

 

In the right cluster, redesigned imagery of green leaves shows overall driving efficiency. The left cluster shows Brake Coach, a feature that helps drivers optimize their use of the regenerative braking system so that driving range can be enhanced through proper braking techniques.

 

Available for C-MAX Energi is the MyFord^® Mobile smartphone application that allows users to monitor charging, receive alerts, find charge stations, plan trips and do more from their smartphones or computers for an effortless transition to an electrified vehicle lifestyle.

 

Other available technology features on C-MAX include active park assist, push-button start, AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sony^® Audio, HD Radio^™ and voice-activated Navigation System.

 

Versatility

As Ford’s first North American MAVs, C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi provide customers with plenty of interior versatility and flexibility along with the urban maneuverability of a smaller vehicle.

 

The C-MAX line features a high roof design that gives each vehicle an overall height of 64 inches along with a higher command-style seat position instead of a cockpit-type. It also features five-passenger seating that includes a split, fold-flat second-row seat.

 

C-MAX Hybrid provides 54.3 cubic feet of space behind the first row and 24.5 cubic feet behind the second row. In C-MAX Energi, there is 43.3 cubic feet behind the first row and 19.2 cubic feet behind the second row.

 

Quality and ingenuity

Although Ford’s C-MAX vehicles are new, the software and hardware technology going in them has been evolving for nearly two decades.

 

The C-MAX line also benefits from analysis of more than 500,000 miles of data collected from Ford’s Escape plug-in hybrid test fleet, which helped engineers understand how plug-in hybrid vehicles are driven and charged and how parts perform under certain conditions.

 

“The result is a stunningly efficient system that has been entirely developed by Ford in-house,” said Marakby. “That’s crucial because it allows for development of one highly efficient system as opposed to integrating pieces of software and hardware made by different parties with hope that it will not only function properly but also efficiently.”

 

C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi get their power through the combination of a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor. When powered by gasoline, the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi use the all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine – a powerful and fuel-efficient engine and among the most advanced non-turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains Ford has ever offered.

 

The electric motors of the C-MAX hybrids are powered by advanced lithium-ion (li-ion) battery systems designed to maximize use of common, high-quality components, such as control board hardware that has proven field performance in Ford’s critically acclaimed hybrid vehicles.

 

Li-ion battery packs are more efficient than nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries. They also are 25 to 30 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter than NiMH batteries used in today’s first-generation hybrid vehicles.

 

C-MAX hybrids offer Ford’s next-generation powersplit architecture that allows the electric motor and gasoline-powered engine to work together or separately to maximize efficiency. The engine also can operate independently of vehicle speed, charging the batteries or providing power to the wheels as needed. The motor alone can provide sufficient power to the wheels in low-speed, low-load conditions and work with the engine at higher speeds.

 

In the C-MAX Hybrid, the li-ion battery pack is recharged when the gasoline engine is in operation. Further, the regenerative braking system recaptures more than 95 percent of the braking energy that would otherwise be lost, and is able to use that power to help charge the battery. C-MAX Hybrid requires no plug-in charging.

 

C-MAX Energi is charged by connecting the vehicle’s external charge port to either a standard 120-volt outlet or available 240-volt charging station.

 

Safety

The C-MAX hybrids offer standard safety technologies such as the MyKey^® teen safety feature, SYNC 911 Assist^™ and seven airbags. SYNC 911 Assist uses hands-free phone capabilities to connect the driver directly with a local 911 operator through the paired phone should an accident occur in which an airbag deploys.

 

The next-generation MyKey features now allow parents to choose from multiple top speed limits and blocking of explicit satellite radio programming. MyKey also provides a persistent audible warning if front occupants are not wearing seat belts.

 

The C-MAX hybrids also feature standard safety and driver-assist technologies, including Curve Control that is designed to slow the vehicle when it’s cornering too fast and Torque Vectoring Control to help accelerate through a turn when necessary. AdvanceTrac^® with Roll Stability Control^™ (RSC) and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) also are standard.

 

New Regenerative Braking System for Mazda Vehicles

Braking technology is next big innovation for car company.

Temecula, CA (PRWEB) December 03, 2011

Mazda is making a mark in the automotive industry by continually releasing new, groundbreaking technology.

 

The new braking system, which Mazda has labeled the ‘i-ELOOP,’ uses a capacitor to store large volumes of electricity that will help power the electronic components and improve fuel economy by approximately 10 percent. The i-ELOOP actually converts kinetic energy produced as the vehicle decelerates into electricity that it will use to power internal units such as the climate control, audio system and other electronics.

While regenerative braking has been used in hybrid vehicles, Mazda’s system is different as it does not require a large electric motor and battery as hybrid systems do. Instead, the iELOOP uses a 12-25 volt variable voltage alternator, low-resistance capacitor and a DC/DC converter. The system begins collecting energy as soon as the driver begins to decelerate, which it then stores for other uses, making the vehicle more efficient.

Mazda’s newest technology will begin appearing on new Mazda cars in Temecula, CA in 2012. This innovation goes hand-in-hand with Mazda’s Skyactiv Technology, which strives to improve overall efficiency and performance in all Mazda vehicles.

FORD VOLUNTEERS HELP FEED THE HUNGRY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES DURING SEASON OF GIVING & SHARING

• The Ford Volunteer Corps is helping to create a better world with a Ford Accelerated Action Day focused on feeding the hungry.
   
• Ford has invested $75,000 in food and supplies to help nonprofit partners and Ford volunteers stock pantry shelves, cook & serve meals, and pack food boxes.
   
• The Ford Volunteer Corps also is holding a Winter Coat and Jacket Drive for children and families in southeast Michigan.

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 2, 2011 – The Ford Volunteer Corps has dispatched hundreds of Ford employees and retirees into local communities to help feed the hungry on a Ford Accelerated Action Day.

 

Hundreds of thousands of people in southeast Michigan struggle to find food each and every day. Ford employees and local nonprofit hunger relief agencies are teaming up to feed people in shelters, missions and family centers. MODEL Teams of Ford volunteers are collecting and sorting food, cooking and serving meals, and packing food boxes.

 

“Many of our neighbors are suffering as they struggle each day to find food for themselves and their families,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "Ford employees are thankful we're able to share our time and resources with people in need."

 

Many of the organizations participating in today’s volunteer effort split $75,000 in Ford grants to buy food and other items needed to complete their projects. Those partners include:

 

• Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit – serve lunch & pack emergency food boxes
• Cass Community Social Services, Detroit – prepare 165 meals for families and disabled
• COTS – Peggy's Place, Detroit – serve meals, pack & deliver food boxes
• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Detroit – help set-up, staff and cook for luncheon
• Focus Hope, Detroit – pack holiday food boxes for area seniors
• Food Gatherers, Ann Arbor – pack 720 food boxes containing 25 meals each
• Lighthouse of Oakland County, Pontiac – pack emergency food kits for 800 families
• Matrix Human Services, Detroit – assemble 100 food baskets and wrap gifts for kids
• Ruth Ellis Center, Highland Park – stock food pantry, prepare meals and decorate halls
• St. Leo's Soup Kitchen, Detroit – prepare and serve 200 meals, distribute clothes
• Salvation Army-Harbor Light, Detroit – ride Bread & Bed truck, distribute food, pack lunches
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Detroit – help move and expand food depot
• Southwest Housing Solutions, Detroit – decorate, assemble holiday food kits
• Veteran's Haven, Gleaners, Detroit – assemble "pantry packs" for needy veterans

This Ford Accelerated Action Day is one of many efforts supported by Ford each year to help feed the hungry, including an 11 year partnership with Newman’s Own® that has contributed 103 refrigerated trucks to help Feeding America deliver more than 176 million meals to families across the country. Ford Motor Company Fund also has provided Transit Connect Mobile Food Pantries to 21 community food banks that deliver food to hard to reach places in several states.

 

In addition to today's activities, the Ford Volunteer Corps held a Winter Coat and Jacket Drive in southeast Michigan to help keep children and families warm during the winter months.

 

“Food and warmth are basic human needs that cannot be taken for granted when you are cold and hungry," said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “We are simply reaching out to let people know we care and are ready to help."

 

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Ford Focus and Boss Mustang are in 10 Best for 2012

Ford Focus and Boss Mustang are 10Best for 2012

Car and Driver Magazine’s 10Best cars for 2012 includes the Ford Focus and Boss Mustang. Focus, editors say, has “one of the best front-wheel-drive chassis on the road right now, supple yet precise, and it allows the Focus to get around many more expensive, more powerful, more overtly sporty cars on a twisting stretch.” It’s “as much sports sedan as economy sedan.” Also giving pricier luxury marques a run for the money is the Boss Mustang, Car and Driver says. Built off the Mustang GT – already “near perfection” – the Boss Mustang creates a new standard for muscle-car makers. Click here for the full article.