FORD FOCUS BEV DRIVERS SOUGHT BY HILLINGDON

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 16 October 2009 – London residents will be among the first in Britain to experience Ford's latest zero emissions technology.

The London Borough of Hillingdon is appealing for volunteer drivers to trial Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) prototypes based on the Ford Focus. The vehicles have been specially developed for the UK Government's "Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles" demonstration next year.

Up to 20 households from the borough will run the Ford Focus BEVs for a three-month period. They will take part in research testing the technology's suitability for potential future application in Ford's European passenger car range.

Hillingdon Council will ask residents to apply to participate, accessing a charging infrastructure to be installed in and around the borough from early 2010. Properties will be provided with domestic charging points.

The five vehicles will come from a fleet of Ford Focus BEV prototypes being produced for a consortium that includes Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy and Strathclyde University, as well as the London borough.

This new BEV demonstration fleet is being developed partly with public funding from the UK Government's Technology Strategy Board (TSB), which promotes innovative industry-led projects that reduce CO₂ while benefitting the country's transport system.

Councillor Keith Burrows, cabinet member for transportation, said: "As one of the largest boroughs in London with a high percentage of green spaces, Hillingdon has always been at the forefront of initiatives to promote greater respect for our environment and the health of our planet. We are delighted to be involved in this latest project which will see our network of charging points for electric cars grow as well as provide a unique opportunity for some of our residents to get involved."

Joe Greenwell, Ford of Britain chairman, said: "Battery electric vehicles represent an important step in Ford's pursuit of more efficient and sustainable mobility. Ford is looking forward to working with its project partners on developing a viable market for electric vehicles both in the UK and Europe."

The Ford Focus BEV

The Ford Focus BEV prototype is based on the current European Ford Focus and will use a new all-electric powertrain from supplier Magna.

A national fleet of 15 Ford Focus BEVs will deliver local zero emission mobility without constraining the user needs and providing room for five passengers, a practical boot and other Ford Focus attributes.

The Ford Focus prototypes feature a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery pack with the capacity of 23kWh and a chassis-mounted 100kW permanent-magnet electric traction motor. It will have a range of up to 75 miles and a top speed of up to 85mph. Charging the batteries will take between six and eight hours using a household 230 volt electricity supply.

Project managed in the UK

This Ford BEV programme is being led by the company's UK research and development centre at Dunton in Essex. Home to an engineering team of almost 3,000 vehicle specialists, Dunton Technical Centre is responsible for developing powertrains for all Ford vehicles in Europe, as well as every part of the company's commercial vehicle range.

Ford engineer Tim Nicklin, left, helps the London Borough of Hillingdon to launch its ultra-low carbon vehicle trial of the Ford Focus with Coun Keith Burrows, right, and Kevin Byrne, the council's head of policy