Sustainability 2011/12

Climate Change and the Environment

Vehicle

Improving Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

To meet our climate change goals, we are focused in the near term on implementing the most cost-effective fuel-efficiency technologies across a large volume of our vehicles, as well as on introducing new products that offer improved fuel efficiency without compromising style or performance. We are concentrating on affordable and near-term sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars – but for millions of cars, because that is how Ford can truly make a difference.

For example, we introduced a wide variety of new engine and transmission technologies – as well as electrical system improvements, weight reductions and aerodynamic improvements – that deliver significant fuel-economy benefits for millions of drivers in the near term. Between 2008 and 2013, we will introduce 62 new or significantly upgraded engines, transmissions and transaxles globally to help us improve fuel economy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions across our global fleet. By the end of 2012, we will have delivered 50 of the 62 planned new or significantly updated powertrains, or approximately 81 percent of our planned introductions.

EcoBoost® engines, which use gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology, are the centerpiece of our efforts to improve vehicle fuel efficiency. EcoBoost engines deliver 10 to 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions and superior driving performance compared to larger-displacement engines. Because EcoBoost is affordable and can be applied to existing gasoline engines, we can implement it across our vehicle fleet, bringing fuel-efficiency benefits to a wide range of our customers. We are on track to equip as much as 80 percent of our global lineup and 90 percent of our North American lineup with EcoBoost engines by 2013. That’s about 1.5 million engines. For more information on EcoBoost and our other near-, mid- and long-term fuel-economy improvement technologies, please see our Sustainable Technologies and Alternative Fuels Plan.

Results

In the U.S., we continue to improve the fuel economy of our new and refreshed vehicles. For example, we made significant improvements to the new 2012 Ford Focus, resulting in an average fuel economy improvement across all model types of 4 miles per gallon (mpg) compared to the 2011 model year. Also in the 2012 model year, we introduced the all-new Focus Electric, with a fuel-economy equivalent rating – according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – of 105 mpg (110 mpg in the city). Substantial gains were also made to the fuel economy of the Ford Edge with the introduction of the 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and innovative aerodynamics technologies such as Active Grille Shutter and side-door rocker moldings to reduce drag. We also introduced the 2.0L EcoBoost on the Ford Explorer, which delivers a 30 percent fuel-efficiency improvement over the highest fuel-economy variant of the previous-generation 2010 Explorer.

As seen in the graphic below, Ford’s 2012 model year U.S. vehicles rank better than the industry fuel-economy average in six of 11 categories and the same in five.

For the 2011 model year, our fleet CO2 emissions decreased by about 3 percent relative to the 2010 model year, and improved 9 percent compared to the 2007 model year. Preliminary data for the 2012 model year project that the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) values will improve for cars and stay about the same for the truck fleet, compared to the 2011 model year. On an overall fleet basis, preliminary estimates indicate a 2012 CAFE improvement of 7.6 percent compared to 2011.

In Europe, we have reduced the average CO2 emissions of our car fleet by 8.5 percent between 2006 and 2010 calendar year.1 We have achieved this through the introduction of a variety of innovations, such as advanced common rail diesel engines available across the European model range – including the ECOnetic Technology range of low-CO2 vehicles and the introduction of EcoBoost direct-injection, turbocharged gasoline engines.

Fuel Economy of U.S. Ford Vehicles by Segment

Miles per gallon

  Industry Ford
Minimum Average Maximum Minimum Average Maximum
Total 10 22 112 11 23 105
Compact Cars 14 27 105 30 41 105
Large Cars 12 19 28 19 20 22
Midsize Cars 13 25 99 19 25 39
Midsize Station Wagons 18 25 42      
Minicompact Cars 13 22 37      
Small Pick-up Trucks 2WD 16 19 22      
Small Pick-up Trucks 4WD 16 18 20      
Small Station Wagons 14 26 53      
Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD 15 37 62 23 43 62
Special Purpose Vehicle, minivan 2WD 20 21 24      
Special Purpose Vehicle, minivan 4WD 19 19 19      
Special Purpose Vehicle, SUV 2WD 12 21 32 16 22 32
Special Purpose Vehicle, SUV 4WD 12 19 29 15 20 29
Standard Pick-up Trucks 2WD 14 17 21 14 17 19
Standard Pick-up Trucks 4WD 13 16 21 13 16 18
Subcompact Cars 14 23 112 17 25 33
Two Seaters 10 21 37      
Vans, Cargo Types 11 14 17 12 14 15
Vans, Passenger Type 11 13 14 11 13 14

We have committed that every all-new or redesigned vehicle we introduce will be best in class for fuel economy or among the leaders in its segment. Some examples of our recently launched vehicles that met this commitment as of June 2012 include:

  • The Ford Focus Electric has an EPA fuel economy rating of 105 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), making it the most fuel efficient compact vehicle available in the U.S.
  • The 2012 Ford Explorer with both the V6 and the 2.0L I-4 EcoBoost engine delivers best-in-class fuel economy. The V6 Explorer delivers up to 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, putting among the leaders for fuel economy in the full-size V6 SUV segment in fuel efficiency. Only the EcoBoost Explorer does better, with an EPA rating of 28 mpg on the highway.
  • The 2012 Ford F-150 delivers best-in-class fuel economy among full-size pickup trucks, with its 3.7L V6 4X2. This vehicle offers fuel economy of 17 city/23 hwy/19 combined. The F-150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine offers a best-in-class mix of torque, capability, and fuel economy; this vehicle offers fuel economy of 16 city/22 hwy/18 combined with 420 lb-ft of torque, best-in-class towing at 11,300 lbs and best in class payload at 3,100 lbs. The F-150 with 5.0L V8 has best-in-class fuel economy of comparable V8s at 15 city/21 hwy/17 combined.2
  • The new Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Technology is the most fuel-efficient and lowest-CO2-emission passenger car Ford has ever offered in Europe. Powered by a 1.6L Duratorq TDCi diesel, the new Fiesta ECOnetic Technology offers fuel economy of 3.3L/100km (86 mpg U.K.3/71 mpg U.S.) and delivers CO2 emissions of 87 g/km.
  • The Ford Focus ECOnetic Technology, which delivers fuel economy of 3.4L/100km (83.1 mpg U.K.4/69 mpg U.S.) and CO2 emissions of 88g/km – is one of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid family cars currently available in Europe.

The Ford Focus Electric

The Ford Focus Electric on show at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

The following are some examples of our fuel-efficient vehicles by region.

North America

In North America, we continued to introduce new vehicles that use the technologies identified in our Sustainable Technology and Alternative Fuels Plan and offer outstanding fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions, as seen in the following examples from 2011 and early 2012:

  • We continued to introduce new vehicles with best-in-class fuel economy, including the 2012 model year Ford Focus, Ford F-150 and Explorer. All of these vehicles have unsurpassed fuel economy in their respective segments.5
  • With the introduction of the all-new Ford Escape and Fusion in 2012, we will have the most fuel-efficient vehicle lineup in our Company’s history.
  • As of June 2012, Ford offers four vehicles that get 40 mpg (or MPGe) or better:
    • Ford Focus SFE
    • Ford Fiesta SFE
    • Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
    • Ford Focus Electric
  • By the end of 2012, Ford will introduce three more vehicles with 40 mpg or MPGe or better:
    • Ford Fusion Energi
    • Ford C-MAX Hybrid
    • Ford C-MAX Energi

As of the end of 2011, Ford offered 13 vehicles that get 30 mpg or better:

  • Ford Edge with EcoBoost: 21 mpg/30 mpg
  • Ford Escape Hybrid FWD: 34 mpg/31 mpg
  • Ford Escape Hybrid AWD: 30 mpg/27 mpg
  • Ford Fiesta five-speed manual: 29 mpg/37 mpg
  • Ford Fiesta automatic: 29 mpg/38 mpg
  • Ford Fiesta SFE automatic: 29 mpg/40 mpg
  • Ford Focus five-speed manual: 26 mpg/36 mpg
  • Ford Focus automatic: 28 mpg/38 mpg
  • Ford Focus SFE automatic: 28 mpg/40 mpg
  • Ford Fusion 2.5L automatic: 23 mpg/33 mpg
  • Ford Fusion Hybrid: 41 mpg/36 mpg
  • Ford Mustang Coupe 3.7L automatic: 19 mpg/31 mpg
  • Ford Mustang Convertible 3.7L automatic: 19 mpg/30 mpg

We also continued to expand the use of our EcoBoost engines, which significantly improve the fuel economy of gasoline engines. We will equip as much as 90 percent of our North American lineup with EcoBoost engines by 2013.

Europe

Ford already offers one of the broadest low-CO2 vehicle portfolios in Europe. In 2008, we began launching our ECOnetic Technology line of vehicles. These ultra-low-CO2 versions of select Ford diesel vehicles leverage several advanced fuel-saving technologies. The ECOnetic name was chosen because it links ecologically sensitive technology to our “energy in motion” design philosophy, which combines driving quality and emotional styling. The expansion of ECOnetic Technology to a wider range of models is part of Ford’s overall sustainability strategy, including the target of reducing CO2 emissions of its cars by 30 percent between 2006 and 2020. The innovative range of low-CO2 features will be available in an increasing number of Ford vehicles in Europe, qualifying them to wear the ECOnetic Technology badge, which has been applied since October 2011 to all Ford cars that are the leaders or among the very best in terms of fuel economy in their segments. The badge will appear on more than 30 models by the end of 2012.

ECOnetic Technology features such as Automatic Start/Stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Active Grille Shutter, EcoMode and other fuel-saving features are already available, or will be by the end of 2012, on the Ford Fiesta, C-MAX, Grand C-MAX, Focus, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy. Ford is the only non-premium manufacturer currently offering Active Grille Shutter.

The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

With the new generations of the Ford Fiesta and Focus ECOnetic Technology in 2012, we extended the availability of best-in-class, or among-best-in-class, extremely low-CO2 vehicles, which now include the following:

  • The new Fiesta ECOnetic Technology, Ford’s most fuel-efficient and lowest-CO2-emission passenger car ever, offers fuel economy of 3.3L/100km (86 mpg U.K.6/71 mpg U.S.) and CO2 emissions of 87g/km. The new model showcases Ford ECOnetic Technology innovations like Automatic Start/Stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, EcoMode and shift indicator light. It also benefits from a bespoke engine calibration and optimized gear ratios. A lower suspension, undershield and wheel deflectors, as well as low-rolling-resistance tires, are used to further reduce driving resistances.
  • The Focus ECOnetic Technology delivers fuel economy of 3.4L/100km (83.1 mpg U.K.7/69 mpg U.S.) and CO2 emissions of 88g/km, making it the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid family car currently available in Europe. It is uniquely equipped with a lean NOx trap in combination with a coated diesel particulate filter.
  • The Ford Mondeo ECOnetic has a specially calibrated 115 PS (85 kW) version of the 1.6L Duratorq TDCi engine equipped with a standard cDPF. Due to a combination of changes compared to the standard Mondeo, the second-generation Mondeo ECOnetic is delivering a combined fuel consumption of just 4.3L/100km (65.6 mpg U.K.8), which translates into average CO2 emissions of 114 g/km – an important tax break point in some European markets.
  • The Focus 1.0L EcoBoost model is Ford’s most-efficient gasoline vehicle ever and delivers best-in-class fuel economy and the lowest CO2 emissions compared to its rivals. The 1.0L EcoBoost 100PS version delivers 4.8L/100km (58.9 mpg U.K.9/49 mpg U.S.) and CO2 emissions of 109g/km. The 125PS model returns 5.0L/100km (56.5 mpg U.K.10/47 mpg U.S.) with CO2 emissions of 114g/km.
  • The new three-cylinder 1.0L EcoBoost engine will come to other models during 2012, including the Ford B-MAX and C-MAX.

After the successful introduction of the new EcoBoost gasoline engine family in the U.S., Ford launched 2.0L and 1.6L EcoBoost engines in Europe in 2010. These turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline engines will deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and fewer CO2 emissions compared to conventional gasoline engines. In February 2012 the all-new 1.0L EcoBoost, first available in the Focus, joined the 1.6L EcoBoost gasoline and 1.6L TDCi diesel in wearing the ECOnetic Technology badge, recognition reserved for Ford cars that are either leaders or among the very best in their segment in terms of fuel economy. The new Focus 1.0L EcoBoost is Ford’s most fuel-efficient gasoline engine vehicle ever.

The 1.0L EcoBoost uses turbocharging and direct fuel injection to extract impressive levels of power and fuel efficiency from its three-cylinder engine block, which is so small it can fit on a sheet of A4 paper. This combination of power and low CO2 emissions is unmatched by competitors in its segment. The engine’s high torque of 170Nm between 1,400 rpm and 4,500 rpm (or between 1,400 rpm and 4,000 rpm in 100PS version) supports a fuel-efficient driving style and delivers a good performance feel and diesel-like torque experience. The 1.0L EcoBoost engine also will be offered in the C-MAX and all-new B-MAX this year, with other models to follow.

In addition, our global electric vehicle plan is extending to Europe with the Focus Electric, which will be launched in late 2012, and will launch hybrid vehicles in coming years.

Ford of Europe’s innovative Product Sustainability Index (PSI) shows how the vision of sustainability can be made operational. By combining comprehensive sustainability criteria into the earliest stages of the product development process, Ford’s PSI provides a groundbreaking design-for-sustainability tool. Designers can use it to assess the lifecycle CO2 emissions of a vehicle, and consumers can use it to understand a vehicle’s footprint.

Asia Pacific and Africa

Ford will upgrade its entire powertrain portfolio in China with 20 advanced engines and transmissions to support its aggressive plan to introduce 15 new vehicles to China by 2015. These advanced, fuel-efficient technologies – including turbocharging, direct injection, twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) and six-speed transmissions – will deliver a more than 20 percent improvement in fuel economy to Ford’s passenger vehicle fleet in China by 2015, which represents a key part of Ford’s near-term sustainability goals in China. The all-new 1.0L EcoBoost direct-injection turbocharging gasoline engine, the smallest of Ford’s EcoBoost engine family, will be produced in China for application in future vehicles for the Chinese market. Ford’s joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. (CFMA), is building a new engine plant and a new transmission plant to speed up the localization of advanced powertrains to meet China’s fast-growing demands. We are also continuing efforts to develop products that support the evolving “new energy vehicle” (defined as battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) market in China.

In India, we are continuing to introduce vehicles with excellent fuel economy. The recently launched all-new Fiesta – powered by new top-of-the-line 1.5L Ti-VCT gasoline and TDCi diesel powertrains developed for India – delivers class-leading fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions compared to the outgoing model. This builds on fuel-economy leadership established with the Ford Figo, launched in March 2010, which has two engine options: a best-in-class, fuel-efficient 1.4L TDCi diesel and a very competitive 1.2L gasoline engine. These vehicles are highly significant to our success in India, as our studies show fuel economy to be the most important criteria in purchase consideration in that country.

In Australia, we launched an EcoBoost version of the Ford Mondeo in 2011 and an EcoBoost Ford Falcon in 2012. Also in Australia, Ford’s next-generation EcoLPi liquid-injection liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) system for the Falcon became available in 2011, providing customers with the most advanced LPG technology on the market. The Falcon EcoLPi fuel system improves fuel economy by 12 to 15 percent while also improving power by approximately 27 percent over the prior LPG Falcon model.

South America

In South America, we are improving fuel economy by introducing some of the efficient engine and transmission technologies currently used in North America, and by using technologies specifically relevant to the widespread use of biofuels in Brazil. In 2011, we introduced the Ford Mondeo with an EcoBoost engine in Argentina, which marked the debut of EcoBoost technology in South America. We are continuing to implement the new, more-efficient “Sigma” engine, which improves efficiency compared to current engines through reduced internal friction and improved electronic throttle controls. We have also implemented improved engine-compression ratios – or the ratio in which the air and fuel mixture is compressed in the engine combustion chamber – on flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil. This optimizes fuel efficiency in vehicles using biofuels, which have a higher octane rating than petroleum-based gasoline. We have also improved the gearing ratios, aerodynamics and rolling resistance of our South American models, further increasing fuel economy. For the 2012 model year and beyond, we are planning to introduce even more fuel-efficient twin independent variable cam timing engines and direct-injection engines, Battery Management Systems, smart alternator systems, dual-clutch automatic transmissions and improved aerodynamics in the B- and C-sized vehicle segments, which make up approximately 80 percent of the Brazilian market.

  1. The 2011 calendar-year fleet-wide CO2 emissions data for our European fleet will be available in November 2012. For all years, these data do not include Volvo.
  2. F-150 fuel economy is EPA-estimated compared to non-hybrid engine 4X2 light-duty full-size pickups. The F-150 with 5.0L V8 fuel economy is best in class compared to other trucks in its class with small V8 engines of 5.0L or less displacement.
  3. This fuel economy number was calculated according to the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 93/116/EEC, which uses European drive cycles. They differ from fuel economy calculations developed in the U.S. or other regions of the world. The fuel economy figures in mpg are based on the UK imperial gallon, which is 1.2 times the U.S. gallon.
  4. This fuel economy number was calculated according to the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 93/116/EEC, which uses European drive cycles. They differ from fuel economy calculations developed in the U.S. or other regions of the world. The fuel economy figures in mpg are based on the UK imperial gallon, which is 1.2 times the U.S. gallon.
  5. Based on adjusted city/highway fuel-economy label values from the 2011 and 2012 MY EPA Fuel Economy Guides.
  6. This fuel economy number was calculated according to the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 93/116/EEC, which uses European drive cycles. They differ from fuel economy calculations developed in the U.S. or other regions of the world. The fuel economy figures in mpg are based on the UK imperial gallon, which is 1.2 times the U.S. gallon.
  7. This fuel economy number was calculated according to the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 93/116/EEC, which uses European drive cycles. They differ from fuel economy calculations developed in the U.S. or other regions of the world. The fuel economy figures in mpg are based on the UK imperial gallon, which is 1.2 times the U.S. gallon.
  8. This fuel economy number was calculated according to the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 93/116/EEC, which uses European drive cycles. They differ from fuel economy calculations developed in the U.S. or other regions of the world. The fuel economy figures in mpg are based on the UK imperial gallon, which is 1.2 times the U.S. gallon.
  9. This fuel economy number was calculated according to the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 93/116/EEC, which uses European drive cycles. They differ from fuel economy calculations developed in the U.S. or other regions of the world. The fuel economy figures in mpg are based on the UK imperial gallon, which is 1.2 times the U.S. gallon.
  10. This fuel economy number was calculated according to the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 93/116/EEC, which uses European drive cycles. They differ from fuel economy calculations developed in the U.S. or other regions of the world. The fuel economy figures in mpg are based on the UK imperial gallon, which is 1.2 times the U.S. gallon.