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Climate Change and the Environment

Comparing Electrification Technologies

Electrified vehicle (EV) technologies range from conventional gas-engine vehicles with a start-stop function (sometimes referred to as micro hybrids), to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric (or “all-electric”) vehicles (BEVs).These technologies offer a range of benefits that can vary with driving conditions. We believe it is important to offer customers a range of fuel-efficient and reduced-emission vehicles, including efficient traditional gas-powered vehicles and electrified vehicle options. We are also committed to helping customers understand the relative advantages of different vehicle options based on their driving needs. We call this approach the “power of choice.”

In a recent national survey, we found that nearly half of Americans are confused about green vehicle options, with 46 percent not knowing the difference between a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicle. This Sustainability Report is one of the key mechanisms we use to inform customers about the different electrified vehicle options. Ford also has a website explaining different fuel-efficient and alternative powertrain vehicles including EVs to help consumers understand the key features of and differences between electrified vehicle options. And, we explain the range of interactive tools available to drivers of our electrified vehicles on our www.plugintoford.com website. We are also reinforcing our power-of-choice product offerings through a “Go Further” tour that helps consumers learn more about electrified vehicles in an engaging, interactive atmosphere. Through all of these communication channels, we seek to help customers decide what vehicle technology is best for them.

The table below provides a generalized overview of the relative benefits and impacts of these different electrified vehicle technologies, based on typical compact C-class vehicles similar to those Ford currently offers (e.g., the Ford Focus, C‑MAX Hybrid, C‑MAX Energi and Focus Electric). Because no single Ford model is available with all of these alternative propulsion concepts, these values are approximate for comparison purposes only and do not reflect values for actual products.

Conventional Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV) Conventional ICEV with Stop-Start Technology1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Technology overview Traditional gas or diesel engine. Traditional gas or diesel engine and powertrain with manual and automatic transmissions with stop-start capability, which shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stopped and automatically restarts it before the accelerator pedal is pressed to resume driving. Smart regenerative brake recharging improves fuel economy. Uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Can run exclusively on battery power, exclusively on gas power or on a combination of both. Also has stop-start capability and regenerative braking. Uses a high-capacity battery that can be charged from an ordinary household 120-volt (V) outlet or a 240V charging station. When the battery is depleted, the PHEV runs like a regular HEV.2 Uses only a battery-powered electric motor, no gas or diesel engine. Runs entirely on electricity from batteries, which can be charged from household outlets or specialized charging stations.
Ideal driving conditions Flexible for a wide range of uses. Flexible for a wide range of uses. Improved fuel economy in urban driving. Flexible for a wide range of uses. Excellent urban fuel economy and improved highway fuel economy. Flexible for a wide range of uses. Dramatically improved fuel economy. Suitable for customers who have access to a 120V outlet or 240V charging station at home and/or the office. Can provide approximately 20 miles in pure electric mode, but is flexible for longer trips as well. Ideal for customers with access to a charging station at home or work who have shorter, predictable daily trips of less than 80 miles (between charges).

Technology Benefits/Costs Based on a Typical Compact or “C-class” Sedan3
Fuel economy4 ˜31 mpg ˜32 mpg ˜40 mpg5 combined city and highway 88 MPGe6 (combined city and highway) in electric mode. ~38 MPG using gasoline in hybrid mode. 105 MPGe7
Range on tank/charge8 ˜420 miles/tank ˜430 miles/tank ˜580 miles/tank ˜550 miles on combined gas and electric power. More than 1,000 miles between visits to a gas station in typical use. Up to 76 miles on a charge
Fueling/charging time Minutes Minutes Minutes Minutes for gasoline; 2.5 hours with a 240V outlet and 7 hours with a 120V outlet. Up to four hours with a 240V outlet if equipped with a 6.6 kW charge port

CO2 emissions9
Well to tank10 ˜50 g/km ˜50 g/km ˜40 g/km ˜40 g/km n/a
Tank to wheels11 ˜165 g/km ˜160 g/km ˜130 g/km ˜135 g/km n/a
Electricity generation12 n/a n/a n/a 170 g/km 140 g/km
Total CO213 ˜215g/km ˜210 g/km ˜170 g/km ˜175 g/km14 ˜140 g/km
Annual fuel cost ˜$1,200–1,90015 ˜$1,200–1,90016 ˜$900–1,50017 ˜$750–$1,050 ($500–$800 for gasoline + $250 for electricity)18 ˜$45019
  1. Some automakers consider this a form of hybrid vehicle. However, Ford views and is implementing these technologies as part of our strategy to improve the fuel economy of conventional internal-combustion engine vehicles. We assume start-stop technology can provide up to 6 percent fuel economy improvement in city driving.
  2. Another type of PHEV, often called an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, runs entirely on battery power until the battery is depleted, and then the onboard gas-powered engine runs to recharge the battery. The wheels are driven only by the electric motor, and the engine’s sole purpose is to recharge the battery.
  3. These numbers are for comparison purposes only. They are based on modeling and testing calculations and do not necessarily represent the numbers that would be achieved in real-world driving conditions, nor do they represent actual products that Ford currently makes or may produce.
  4. The internal-combustion engine fuel-economy estimate is based on the calculation used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop combined fuel-economy (city/highway) values for the labels affixed to new vehicles. The combined fuel-economy value is intended to represent the approximate fuel economy that most consumers can expect based on a typical mix of city and highway driving. Estimates for the other technologies are based on the metro-highway drive cycle used for the U.S. fuel-economy regulations. Fuel-economy calculations for all of the technologies are based in U.S. gallons and on U.S. drive cycles.
  5. In general, HEVs deliver approximately 30–40 percent better fuel economy than comparably sized non-hybrids.
  6. MPGe or miles per gallon equivalent for electric vehicles is calculated based on the 33.7 kWh energy content of a gallon of gasoline.
  7. MPGe or miles per gallon equivalent for electric vehicles is calculated based on the 33.7 kWh energy content of a gallon of gasoline.
  8. All estimates are based on a 13.5-gallon tank except for the BEV, which has no fuel tank.
  9. In vehicles using internal combustion engines, the fuel feedstock is assumed to be E10, petroleum gasoline blended with 10% ethanol by volume.
  10. Well-to-tank emissions represent the CO2 generated by excavating feedstocks and producing and distributing the fuel.
  11. Tank-to-wheels emissions represent the CO2 generated by burning the fuel in the vehicle.
  12. Electricity generation represents the CO2 emitted by excavating feedstocks and generating and transmitting electricity, on average for the U.S. grid.
  13. Total CO2 is the sum of the well-to-tank, tank-to-wheels and electricity generation emissions. The PHEV total CO2 emissions are weighted by the share of miles traveled in electric and gasoline modes.
  14. Total CO2 for the PHEV assumes an all-electric range of 20 miles and a utility factor of 48 percent (SAE J2841). The utility factor indicates the percentage of distance the vehicle is driven using electricity.
  15. Based on 12,000 miles/year, 31 mpg and $3–5/gallon.
  16. Based on 12,000 miles/year, 32 mpg and $3–5/gallon.
  17. Based on 12,000 miles/year, 40 mpg and $3–5/gallon.
  18. Based on 12,000 miles/year, 48 percent in electric mode at 2.7 miles/kWh (EPA 37 kWh/100 miles, combined) and 12 cents/kWh, and 52 percent in gasoline-engine mode at 38 mpg and $3–5/gallon.
  19. Based on 12,000 miles/year, 3.1 miles/kWh (EPA 32 kWh/100 miles, combined) and 12 cents/kWh.