Climate Change and the Environment

At Ford, we have been working for many years to reduce the environmental impacts of our vehicles and operations.

For example, we are doing our part to prevent or reduce the potential for environmental, economic and social harm due to climate change. We have a science-based strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our products and operations that focuses on doing our share to stabilize carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations in the atmosphere. We are on track to meet the central elements of our strategy: For each of our new or significantly refreshed vehicles, we will continue to offer a powertrain with leading fuel economy and we are reducing GHG emissions across our global product portfolio.

Vehicles

Ford offers one of the broadest low-CO₂ vehicle portfolios in Europe. Our efforts to improve fuel efficiency are paying off. Preliminary data shows that we have reduced the average CO₂ emissions of our European car fleet by around 18 percent between the 2007 and 2013 calendar years.¹

EcoBoost® Engines and ECOnetic Technology

In Europe, we are doubling production capacity at our Cologne, Germany, engine plant to more than 1,000 engines a day. This is in response to robust demand for the 1.0L EcoBoost engine, which was named International Engine of the Year in 2012 and 2013 by a panel of auto journalists. The Cologne plant has also begun production of the 1.0L EcoBoost for the North American market.

We offer three EcoBoost gasoline engines in Europe: the 2.0L, 1.6L and 1.0L. EcoBoost engines use turbocharging and direct-injection technology to produce levels of performance that are usually associated with larger-capacity engines. The 1.0L EcoBoost, for example, offers the power of a traditional 1.6L gasoline engine but with a CO₂ level as low as 99 g/km. In Europe, the 1.0L EcoBoost is available in the Ford Fiesta, B‑MAX, EcoSport, Focus, C‑MAX, Grand C‑MAX, Transit and Tourneo Connect; it also will be offered in the Transit Courier, Tourneo Courier and Mondeo. In early 2014, the Ford Focus became the first non-hybrid gasoline family car in Europe to break the 100 g/km CO₂ barrier when equipped with the revised 100 PS version of the 1.0L EcoBoost engine.

We offer three ECOnetic vehicles, ultra-low-CO₂ versions of selected Ford diesel vehicles that leverage several advanced, fuel-saving technologies. In early 2014, for example, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic has been updated to reach CO₂ emissions of 85 g/km offering fuel economy of 3.3L/100 km. This model includes a range of Ford technology features, including revised gear ratios; a special aeropack to improve aerodynamics (comprising undershield wheel deflectors and low rolling resistance tires); a variable oil pump; a more efficient air conditioner, cooling fan and alternator; as well as friction and combustion improvements in the engine. It also features Auto Start-Stop, smart regenerative charging, EcoMode and a shift indicator light. In addition, the Focus ECOnetic is available offering a fuel economy of 3.4L/100 km and just 88 g/km CO₂.

Electrification

In the summer of 2013, Ford added its first all-electric passenger car to the successful Focus lineup in Europe by introducing the Ford Focus Electric. In 2014, based on our success with electrified vehicles in North America, we will introduce further electrified vehicles in Europe, including the C‑MAX Energi and the Mondeo Hybrid.

In Germany, Ford is working with 12 other partners on the colognE-mobil project, using a fleet of electrified vehicles – including Focus Electrics and C‑MAX Energi plug-in hybrids – to conduct road testing. This program is part of a much larger research effort in several German cities that is partly funded by the German government and involves multiple automakers, utility companies, universities and technology partners. Now in its second phase, the project focuses on charging infrastructure improvements; the use of renewable power, electric carsharing and e-cabs; networking effectively with public transport; and public perception and safety.

We believe these kinds of collaborative efforts across sectors are essential for ensuring customer-focused products that provide the right value. They also help to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support these types of vehicles.

Eco-Driving Information and Training

Ford has demonstrated that drivers who practice “eco-driving” can improve their fuel economy by an average of 24 percent. Eco-driving tips are available to the public on Ford’s website, and online training is available through the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program. In addition, a Web-based eco-driving program has been available to all U.S. salaried Ford employees since 2006.

Ford began work on the eco-driving concept in 2000, when we first offered an eco-driving program through our German dealerships, in partnership with the German Federation of Driving Instructor Associations and the German Road Safety Council. That program, which continues today, trains drivers in smarter and greener driving skills, and vehicle maintenance habits. It uses specially trained and certified instructors to run programs for several target groups, including fleet drivers and customers. By the end of 2013 more than 17,000 German drivers had been “eco-trained” through this program.

In 2013, Ford continued to support the ECOWILL project, which stands for Eco-Widespread Implementation for Learner Drivers and Licensed Drivers. Ford has been the only automotive industry member active in this project since it began in 2010. This project, which concluded as scheduled in April 2013, was based on the premise that eco-driving can reduce CO₂ from motoring and improve road safety without making it less fun to drive. ECOWILL succeeded in meeting two primary goals:

• A mass roll-out of high-quality/standardized short duration eco-driving trainings. Ford operates one-hour courses with professional driving instructors as part of this goal, and
• Promoting the education and testing of eco-driving for learner drivers in regular driving school under the leadership of EFA, the European driving school association.

Thanks to this project, approximately 32,000 new drivers were “eco-trained,” and more than 10,000 already-licensed drivers received this training. The project resulted in many benefits that will continue on after its formal conclusion. For example, the eco-driving training developed through this program was added to driver training programs required in all European countries. ECOWILL also influenced the creation of many national eco-driving and road safety initiatives and resulted in a successful eco-driving coaching methodology that can be used in other programs.

From 2010 to 2013, Ford also contributed to a European research project called eCoMove. Through this project, Ford and 32 partner organizations developed and tested vehicle-to-driver communications technologies focused on reducing CO₂ emissions from road transport by reducing inefficiencies in driver behavior. In field tests, the new technologies resulted in a 15 percent improvement in fuel economy and CO₂ emissions. As part of this project, Ford tested an accelerator pedal that provides tactile feedback to the driver and an associated dashboard display that coaches drivers on more fuel efficient driving behavior. The system provides drivers with information about approaching road conditions that can help drivers make more efficient driving choices, such as slowing down earlier and more slowly. The system also helps drivers time their speed to reach traffic lights when they will be green to avoid unnecessary stopping and accelerating. This new driver assistance system leverages existing Ford technologies including traffic sign recognition, advanced map information, and car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications to help drivers prepare for or avoid road congestion and changes in topography.

Sustainable Manufacturing

In early 2012, Ford of Europe announced our five-year sustainable manufacturing strategies for water, landfill waste and emissions. The ambitious targets embedded in these strategies would see the average Ford vehicle using 30 percent less water and creating 70 percent less waste to landfill in manufacturing over the next five years. We also plan to reduce the amount of energy it takes to manufacture a vehicle by 25 percent before 2016.

Through early 2014, we have achieved 10 percent of the planned 25 percent energy savings throughout Europe. These savings have been accomplished through the introduction of an Energy Management Operating System (EMOS). Plant Energy Teams have been created at all Ford production facilities in Europe to implement EMOS. In our plant in Cologne alone, about 50 gigawatt hours have been saved since the beginning of EMOS. A new heat recovery systems installed in the paintshop in 2013, where car bodies are dried at temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius, has reduced energy consumption by 2,600-megawatt hours and saved about €100,000. A data documentation pilot project has also been launched at our Cologne plant with similar monitoring schemes being introduced in Valencia, Bridgend and Saarlouis. It enables energy consumption comparisons to be made not only with other Ford locations, but also with the competition. Other projects aimed at saving energy include compressed air dryers, which remove the moisture from the compressed air, improving paint quality. These replace previous dryers dating back to 1986, saving about 210,000 euros per year.

For a discussion of our global climate change impact and commitments, please see the Climate Change and Environment section. For a discussion of our global commitment to water issues, please see the Water section.