Archive for the ‘news’ tag
Ford Hybrid Car Models
The New Ford Hybrid
As hybrid cars become more and more popular with the general population searching for an alternative to the traditional combustion engine – it was only a matter of time before car giant Ford got in on the act. With one of their main competitors, Toyota, currently selling around one million hybrid cars a year, the market is a tempting one.
However, Ford has not just been satisfied to copy Toyota and other manufacturers of hybrid cars. No they’ve decided to go one better and design a hybrid engine that is even more efficient than any car ever released to the market. While they may have taken the concept inspiration from the best-selling Toyota Prius, the engineering is all their own.
Ford took an existing engine from one of their combustion models, the four cylinder Ford Escape, and modified it into a hybrid. Hybrid cars have two ways of producing power; an electric motor and a traditional combustion engine. The combustion engine is the source of most of the power, and is still indispensable from a practical point of view. These engines are powered by gas or diesel and this can be bought from just about any service station on Earth, whereas the power for the electric motor needs to be topped up after it has powered about eight miles’ worth of driving.
The difference with Ford’s model, the F-150, is that instead of storing the power produced in a battery the F-150 stores it in hydraulic cylinders. The massive increase in energy efficiency means that the new car is a massive three times more energy efficient than Toyota’s Prius.
Despite being almost half as big again than the Prius (at 4800 lbs curb weight it is 65% heavier than the Toyota), the F-150 manages to match it in terms of fuel efficiency with an immense 60mpg for city driving. As a comparison, that is four hundred percent more miles per gallon than the gas-only version, which saves you money at the pump and saves a lot of damage to the environment.
The Hydraulic Hybrid system that Ford are using for the F-150 is not particularly applicable for smaller vehicles – the size of a hydraulic cylinder makes fitting them on a smaller vehicle quite the challenge – but when it gives fuel efficiency like this, it is a pretty persuasive argument for buying a large vehicle. Normally reputable for getting through quite a bit of the planets non-renewables, this size of vehicle is now showing that its size has applications beneficial to the environment, which will persuade a lot of people to give them a go.
Where Toyota led, Ford have followed and raised the stakes. It is now in the hands of other car manufacturers to see where they can take it next, and with the game having seen a significant step up it will be fascinating to see where it goes. What we cannot dispute is that a gauntlet has been thrown down, and you know what car manufacturers are like – they can not resist a challenge, so let’s see how they respond.
About the Author
Do you need to find some extra cash in your budget? Visit Auto Insurance Rates Direct today for fast, free online quotes that can
lower your insurance payment
and put more money in your pocket.
Revealed Ford’s sexy Evos Plug-in Hybrid Concept Car
|
|
FRAM CF10134 Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter $13.86 Fresh Breeze, CF10134, Cabin Air Filter, Uses The Natural Deodorizing Qualities Of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, Help Absorb Odors & Freshen The Air, Premium Efficiency, Filters 98% Of Road Dust & Road Pollen, Odor Absorption Combined With Carbon Embedded Into The Filter Assist In Cleaning Outside Air Flowing Through The Vehicle’s Ventilation System…. |
|
|
Curt Manufacturing 18131 2 Piece Basket Cargo Carrier, Folding Shank $125.78 Curt Basket – style Cargo Carrier. Got a haul? Hitch on some added cargo room in a flash! Powder-coated steel construction. 6″-high sides for added security. 60 x 20 x 2 3/4″. 500-lb. capacity. Order Today! Curt Basket-style Cargo Carrier, 60 x 20 x 6″; folding shank; 2″ receiver… |
|
|
Parrot MKi9200 Advanced Color Display Bluetooth Hands-Free Music Kit $249.99 Amazon.com Product DescriptionThe Parrot MKi9200 Advanced Color Display Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit system is a unique range of Bluetooth hands-free car kits which install in every car. It combines the latest communication technologies with a full set of services dedicated to music–A full system dedicated to conversation and music in car. Parrot MKi9100 kit comes with everything you need to b… |
|
|
BatteryMole Car Battery Warning System (12 Volt Automobile Battery Monitor with Battery Failure Prediction Logic). Made in USA $39.25 Don’t get stranded. Your car should be smart enough to tell you when it’s time to replace the battery. Last year over 60 million automobile batteries were replaced in North America. Your battery could be among this year’s 60 million but your car doesn’t know it. The BatteryMole’s patent pending technology analyzes your vehicle’s battery and starting system like no other product. Simply plug this u… |
|
|
Alpine SPR-17C 6-1/2 2-Way Speaker (Pair) $119.00 2-way coaxial speakers, hybrid layered pulp woofer cone, 300 watts peak power, 1 Inches silk dome tweeter…. |
|
|
Power Wheels Cadillac Escalade $418.99 … |
|
|
Barbie Doll Ford Escape $19.99 Brand new in factory sealed box… |
|
|
Power Wheels Cadillac Escalade⢠$349.99 … |