We continue to lead the way forward in developing hydrogen technology and believe hydrogen may become a viable motor fuel in the future.
In 2006, we publicly unveiled the first in a series of hydrogen-powered vehicles partially funded by a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy. The all-new fuel cell Ford Explorer can travel 350 miles on a single fill-up, more than any fuel cell vehicle on the road.
Setting Records
The fuel cell Explorer comes equipped with the currently available advanced electric all-wheel-drive system, though a center-mounted hydrogen storage tank now occupies the space typically used for the 6-speed automatic transmission found in production Explorer models.
Locating the hydrogen storage tank in this area allowed engineers to design a larger tank and deliver a never-before-achieved 350-mile driving range for a fuel cell vehicle. This unique design maintains Explorer's six-passenger seating arrangement and the cargo capacity found in the production Ford Explorer.
In less than a year, the fuel cell Explorer has accumulated more than 17,000 miles, including a world-record drive of 1,556 miles in a single 24-hour period, the most of any fuel cell vehicle to date.
Department of Energy Funding
Through the U.S. Department of Energy's Technology Demonstration Vehicle program, we received partial funding to design and build a prototype fuel cell Ford Explorer.
The goal of the Technology Demonstration Vehicle program is to find environmentally friendly alternatives to the use of petroleum to power vehicles.