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Climate Change and the Environment

Overview of Our Plan

Our sustainable technologies and alternative fuels plan, mapped out in 2007, is our route to improving the fuel economy and cutting the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of our products around the world. We remain committed to the plan and have completed the near-term actions and are currently implementing the mid-term actions.

indicates action completed

In Place

Fundamental technologies in place

  • Significant number of vehicles with EcoBoost® engines
  • Diesel use as market demands
  • Electric power-assisted steering – begin global migration
  • Battery Management Systems – begin global migration
  • Aerodynamics improvements
  • Dual-clutch and six-speed automatic transmissions replace four- and five-speeds
  • Increased unibody applications
  • Introduction of additional small vehicles
  • Auto start-stop systems (micro-hybrids) introduced
  • Add hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications
  • Flexible-fuel vehicles
  • Compressed natural gas (CNG) prepped engines available where select markets demand

Near Term

Fully implement fundamental technologies; introduce significant weight savings

  • EcoBoost engines available in nearly all vehicles; engine displacement reduction aligned with vehicle weight savings
  • Electric power-assisted steering – high volume
  • Additional aerodynamics improvements
  • Six-speed automatic transmissions – high volume
  • Introduce substantial weight reductions; 250–750 lbs.
  • Increased application of Auto Start-Stop
  • Increased use of hybrid technologies
  • Introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV)
  • Vehicle and powertrain capability to leverage available renewable fuels
  • Develop fuel cell stack technology

Mid Term

Expand weight savings, hybrids and plug-ins

  • Introduce second-generation EcoBoost and advanced tech diesel
  • Efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning for HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs
  • High-volume eight-plus speed automatic transmissions
  • Continued weight reduction actions via advanced materials
  • Increase volume of HEV and PHEV technologies
  • Evolve BEV and PHEV ecosystems
  • Optimize engines/vehicles for higher octane/alternative fuels
  • Introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles

Long Term

Leverage hybrids and introduce alternative energy sources

  • Second-generation EcoBoost and advanced tech diesels – high volume
  • Continued efficiencies in electrical architecture and intelligent energy management
  • Lightweight materials proliferate to global platforms
  • Next-generation HEV and PHEV technologies
  • Continued leverage of BEVs
  • Engines capable of operating on fuels with increased renewable hydrocarbons
  • Fuel cells migration timing aligned with fuels and infrastructure availability