|
Ford Explorer FCV
The Ford Explorer FCV SUV, first unveiled at the Greater Los Angeles
Auto Show in November 2006, shows Ford's commitment in pursuing
a line of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The other hydrogen-powered
car currently in the automaker's lineup is the Ford
Focus FCV, of which approximately 30 have been rolled out as
fleet and demonstration vehicles worldwide and logged more than
300,000 test miles.
| |
Ford Explorer Fuel Cell SUV
|
|
While the Ford Focus FCV has a driving range of 150 - 200 miles
per tank of hydrogen gas, the Ford Explorer Fuel Cell SUV boasts
an impressive 350 miles per tank. The center-mounted hydrogen tank
on the Ford Explorer Fuel Cell is placed where the 6-speed automatic
transmission would normal go on the standard production version
of the Ford Explorer.
Ford is claiming that the Explorer Fuel Cell has a driving range
of 350 miles and that this exceeds any other fuel cell vehicle shown
to date. Ford will need to tell this to their Japanese friends,
however, as the Honda
FCX also makes the same claim.
The Ford Explorer FCV was built in cooperation with the U. S. Department
of Energy, who continues to analyze the feasibility of hydrogen
vehicles. The Ford Explorer Fuel Cell is a 6-passenger vehicle and
has already undergone 17,000 miles of road testing including setting
a record of 1,556 miles traveled in a 24-hour period.
As an electric all-wheel-drive vehicle, the Ford Explorer FCV joins
the ranks of Ford's other green vehicles such as the Ford Escape
Hybrid SUV and Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV in delivering a sorely
needed alternative to the group of low gas mileage, high emissions
SUVs currently on the market.
|
