Ford Fuel Cell Program Delivers Zero-Emission Family Vehicle For The Future

"At Ford Motor Company, it's not enough to deliver excellent products. Ford has to deliver excellent products that customers want to use and that have the least impact on the environment. We believe fuel cells offer great promise and Ford intends to lead the way in delivering on that promise for the next generation family vehicle."   
            - Bill Ford Chairman, Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company's P2000 HFC, the world's first no-compromise, family-size fuel cell research vehicle, demonstrates that hydrogen can provide clean power with the functionality customers expect.

The P2000 HFC is a direct hydrogen-fueled, zero-emission electric vehicle based on Ford's advanced lightweight research vehicle platform. It is a roomy family car that seats five passengers while weighing only about 3,300 pounds.

"Our future depends on our ability to provide environmentally advanced vehicles at affordable prices without sacrificing utility and other customer needs," said Bill Powers, Ford vice president of Research. "Ford's goal is to get the technology into customer hands - high-volume applications that car and truck buyers can afford. We've been very encouraged by the performance of the P2000 HFC and by drivers' reactions."

The P2000 HFC's fuel cell system delivers 100 horsepower, has excellent launch feel and accelerates the car from 0 to 60mph in under 14 seconds. It is theoretically capable of a top speed in access of 100 mph, but now is limited to 90 mph.

Fuel cells are energy conversion devices that generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen without combustion. Hydrogen, which can be stored onboard in gaseous or liquid form, is electrochemically combined with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. The only emission from the P2000 HFC is water vapor.

Ford uses the latest proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, considered the most promising for automotive applications. The P2000 HFC uses a third-generation Ballard fuel cell stack and an advanced Ford-developed Ecostar electric drive system. The P2000 HFC currently uses compressed hydrogen gas, but will be switched to liquid hydrogen to improve range.

Ford is helping lead the first long-term, real-world testing program for fuel cell-powered passenger cars in California using the technology previewed by the P2000 HFC. Other members of the project include Ballard Power Systems and DaimlerChrysler, Ford's partners in a unique Fuel Cell Alliance, along with oil companies ARCO, Shell and Texaco, the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission.

The California fuel cell partnership will test the technology and market readiness for fuel cell vehicles, along with researching infrastructure issues, by placing about 45 fuel cell-powered cars and buses on California roads over the next several years. Ford will deliver the first of its fuel cell cars to the project next year.

The P2000 program is associated with Ford's participation in the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, which aims to develop an ultra energy-efficient midsize car with up to triple current fuel economy. PNGV is a collaboration among Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler AG, the U.S. Department of Energy and others. The Canadian government also supports fuel cell research.